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Macroscopic thermodynamics, via the weak coupling approximation, assumes that the equilibrium properties of a system are not affected by interactions with its environment. However, this assumption may not hold for quantum systems, where the strength of interaction between the system and the environment may become non-negligible in a strong coupling regime. In such a regime, the equilibrium properties of the system depend on the interaction energy and the system state is no longer of the Gibbs form. Regarding such interactions, using tools from the quantum estimation theory, we derive the thermodynamic uncertainty relation between intensive and extensive variables valid at all coupling regimes through the generalized Gibbs ensemble. Where we demonstrate the lower bound on the uncertainty of intensive variables increases in presence of quantum fluctuations. Also, we calculate the general uncertainty relations for several ensembles to corroborate the literature results, thus showing the versatility of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definitions of the equilibrium surface tension (ST) existing in thermodynamics are analyzed along with reasons for their ambiguity. A molecular statistical analysis of the concept of equilibrium ST at the vapor–liquid interface is given and a procedure for calculating it within the simplest microscopic model of statistical physics (the lattice gas model) is formulated. Equilibrium ST is shown to be a mechanical characteristic calculated under the condition of a rigorous phase equilibrium over three partial equilibria (mechanical, energy, and chemical). Violation of the chemical equilibrium results in non-equilibrium ST. The emergence of metastable STs is due to the artificial introduction of a foreign film boundary into the model through the Laplace equation, which distorts the real properties of the system. Means of statistical physics for obtaining existing definitions of equilibrium ST in the theory of integral equations for fluids and molecular dynamics are discussed along with a criterion for distinguishing between equilibrium and non-equilibrium STs, metastable and otherwise. Analysis shows that none of the current means of statistical physics ensures correct calculations of equilibrium STs with regard to all molecular features of the considered systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life-mind continuity thesis is difficult to study, especially because the relation between life and mind is not yet fully understood, and given that there is still no consensus view neither on what qualifies as life nor on what defines mind. Rather than taking up the much more difficult task of addressing the many different ways of explaining how life relates to mind, and vice versa, this paper considers two influential accounts addressing how best to understand the life-mind continuity thesis: first, the theory of autopoiesis (AT) developed in biology and in enactivist theories of mind; and second, the recently formulated free energy principle in theoretical neurobiology, with roots in thermodynamics and statistical physics. This paper advances two claims. The first is that the free energy principle (FEP) should be preferred to the theory of AT, as classically formulated. The second is that the FEP and the recently formulated framework of autopoietic enactivism can be shown to be genuinely continuous on a number of central issues, thus raising the possibility of a joint venture when it comes to answering the life-mind continuity thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The argument that the second law of thermodynamics contradicts the theory of evolution has recently been revived by anti-evolutionists. In its basic form, the argument asserts that whereas evolution implies that there has been an increase in biological complexity over time, the second law, a fundamental principle of physics, shows this to be impossible. Scientists have responded primarily by noting that the second law does not rule out increases in complexity in open systems, and since the Earth receives energy from the Sun, it is an open system. This reply is correct as far as it goes, and it adequately rebuts the most crude versions of the second law argument. However, it is insufficient against more sophisticated versions, and it leaves many relevant aspects of thermodynamics unexplained. We shall consider the history of the argument, explain the nuances various anti-evolution writers have brought to it, and offer thorough explanations for why the argument is fallacious. We shall emphasize in particular that the second law is best viewed as a mathematical statement. Since anti-evolutionists never make use of the mathematical structure of thermodynamics, invocations of the second law never contribute anything substantive to their discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In swelling porous media, the potential for flow is much more than pressure, and derivations for flow equations have yielded a variety of equations. In this article, we show that the macroscopic flow potentials are the electro-chemical potentials of the components of the fluid and that other forms of flow equations, such as those derived through mixture theory or homogenization, are a result of particular forms of the chemical potentials of the species. It is also shown that depending upon whether one is considering the pressure of a liquid in a reservoir in electro-chemical equilibrium with the swelling porous media, or the pressure of the vicinal liquid within the swelling porous media, a critical pressure gradient threshold exists or does not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermodynamics of the film of solution with apolar solvent and polar solute is analyzed. The expression for calculating disjoining pressure in a film via the potential electric energy of the filed generated by the solute dipoles is derived. The effect of the image forces on the orientation of dipole molecules near the interfaces is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the dimensional-ensemble becomes compulsory when spatial dimensions are not well defined. Consequently, apart from temperature, thermodynamic equilibrium requires an additional configurational parameter. Two representative cases are considered in detail: oscillators with undefined spatial dimension and topological fractons. Spatial dimension and energy are determined as a function of temperature in both cases. At low temperatures, specific heat behaves exponentially, meaning it creates a slow route to equilibrium. In accordance with experiments, calculations suggest that the spatial dimension diminishes when temperature decreases. Parameter values are computed using data obtained from almost two-dimensional graphene and porous compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]