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From the thermodynamics of irreversible processes to dissipative structures and active matter

Pierre Gaspard

Abstract

A historical perspective is presented on thermodynamics from the pioneering contributions by Carnot and Clausius to recent advances on active matter. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics develops from the identification of the irreversible processes contributing to entropy production in various types of materials and systems. These processes include friction, viscosity, heat and electric conductions, diffusion, reactions, and more. In 1954, Glansdorff and Prigogine formulated a general evolution criterion, which led to the theory of dissipative structures like chemical clocks, reaction-diffusion patterns, and convection patterns. Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics provides the microscopic foundations for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes.

From the thermodynamics of irreversible processes to dissipative structures and active matter

Abstract

A historical perspective is presented on thermodynamics from the pioneering contributions by Carnot and Clausius to recent advances on active matter. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics develops from the identification of the irreversible processes contributing to entropy production in various types of materials and systems. These processes include friction, viscosity, heat and electric conductions, diffusion, reactions, and more. In 1954, Glansdorff and Prigogine formulated a general evolution criterion, which led to the theory of dissipative structures like chemical clocks, reaction-diffusion patterns, and convection patterns. Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics provides the microscopic foundations for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 12 sections, 20 equations, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Historical introduction
  2. The laws of thermodynamics
  3. Global formulation
  4. Local formulation
  5. Irreversible processes
  6. Discoveries of irreversible processes
  7. The contribution of a reaction to entropy production
  8. The non-equilibrium thermodynamics of reactive fluids
  9. General evolution criterion and dissipative structures
  10. The non-equilibrium thermodynamics of active matter
  11. The microscopic foundations of non-equilibrium thermodynamics
  12. Conclusion and perspectives

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Schematic representation of an open system in contact with its environment. $d_{\rm e}X$ is the contribution of exchanges and $d_{\rm i}X$ is the internal contribution to the differential $dX=d_{\rm e}X+d_{\rm i}X$ of some state variable $X$.