This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to our use of cookies. To find out more, see our Privacy and Cookies policy.
Brought to you by:

Order from disorder in closed systems via time-reversal violation

and

Published 22 March 2012 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation T. Goldman and D. H. Sharp 2012 EPL 97 61003 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/97/61003

0295-5075/97/6/61003

Abstract

Definitions of entropy usually assume time-reversal (T) invariance of interactions, yet microscopically T is known to be violated. We present a detailed computational example of (uncharged) particle species separation (Maxwell demon) using an interaction that violates both parity (P) and T so that PT is preserved, consistent with the CPT invariance required in quantum field theory (C is charge conjugation). This illustrates how T-violating forces can produce more organized states from disorganized ones, contrary to expectations based on increase of entropy. We also outline several scenarios in which T-violating forces could lead to an organized state in the early Universe, starting from a still earlier disorganized state.

Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS

Please wait… references are loading.
10.1209/0295-5075/97/61003