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Challenges to The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Theory and Experiment: 146 Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2005 Edition
Author(s): Vladislav Capek (Author), Daniel P. Sheehan (Author)
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: 28 Oct. 2010
Edition: Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2005
Language: English
Print length: 372 pages
ISBN-10: 904816768X
ISBN-13: 9789048167685
Book Description
The advance of scienti?c thought in ways resembles biological and geologic transformation: long periods of gradual change punctuated by episodes of radical upheaval. Twentieth century physics witnessed at least three major shifts — relativity, quantum mechanics and chaos theory — as well many lesser ones. Now, st early in the 21 , another shift appears imminent, this one involving the second law of thermodynamics. Over the last 20 years the absolute status of the second law has come under increased scrutiny, more than during any other period its 180-year history. Since the early 1980’s, roughly 50 papers representing over 20 challenges have appeared in the refereed scienti?c literature. In July 2002, the ?rst conference on its status was convened at the University of San Diego, attended by 120 researchers from 25 countries (QLSL2002) [1]. In 2003, the second edition of Le?’s and Rex’s classic anthology on Maxwell demons appeared [2], further raising interest in this emerging ?eld. In 2004, the mainstream scienti?c journal Entropy published a special edition devoted to second law challenges [3]. And, in July 2004, an echo of QLSL2002 was held in Prague, Czech Republic [4]. Modern second law challenges began in the early 1980’s with the theoretical proposals of Gordon and Denur. Starting in the mid-1990’s, several proposals for experimentally testable challenges were advanced by Sheehan, et al. By the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, a rapid succession of theoretical quantum mechanical ? challenges were being advanced by C´ apek, et al.
Editorial Reviews
Review
From the reviews:
“This volume, appropriately entitled Challenges, was a collaboration … . It is extraordinarily well researched and beautifully organized; it may be approached on many levels by students and ‘lay’ people … . It should also be read by experienced theoretical physicists, chemists and mathematicians and by experimental physicists … . The various typefaces, paper stock and binding are all good. With its many illustrations and few equations this book will be a useful supplement to any elementary course in thermodynamics … .” (Daniel C. Mattis, Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 20 (3), 2006)
“Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics are two of the most difficult concepts for the student of physics. … In the main, Challenges to the second law of thermodynamics is an excellent piece of work which should provide an adequate coverage of this intriguing topic to advanced students and researchers in physics.” (P. Narayana Swamy, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2008 b)
From the Back Cover
The second law of thermodynamics is considered one of the central laws of science, engineering and technology. For over a century it has been assumed to be inviolable by the scientific community. Over the last 10-20 years, however, more than two dozen challenges to it have appeared in the physical literature – more than during any other period in its 150-year history. The number and variety of these represent a cogent threat to its absolute status. This is the first book to document and critique these modern challenges. Written by two leading exponents of this rapidly emerging field, it covers the theoretical and experimental aspects of principal challenges. In addition, unresolved foundational issues concerning entropy and the second law are explored. This book should be of interest to anyone whose work or research is touched by the second law.
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