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This textbook introduces thermodynamics with a modern approach,
starting from four fundamental physical facts (the atomic nature of
matter, the indistinguishability of atoms and molecules of the same
species, the uncertainty principle, and the existence of
equilibrium states) and analyzing the behavior of complex systems
with the tools of information theory, in particular with Shannon's
measure of information (or SMI), which can be defined on any
probability distribution. SMI is defined and its properties and
time evolution are illustrated, and it is shown that the entropy is
a particular type of SMI, i.e. the SMI related to the phase-space
distribution for a macroscopic system at equilibrium. The
connection to SMI allows the reader to understand what entropy is
and why isolated systems follow the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
The Second Llaw is also formulated for other systems, not thermally
isolated and even open with respect to the transfer of particles.
All the fundamental aspects of thermodynamics are derived and
illustrated with several examples in the first part of the book.
The second part addresses important applications of thermodynamics,
covering phase transitions, mixtures and solutions (including the
Kirkwood-Buff approach and solvation thermodynamics), chemical
equilibrium, and the outstanding properties of water.This textbook
is unique in two aspects. First, thermodynamics is introduced with
a novel approach, based on information theory applied to
macroscopic systems at equilibrium. It is shown that entropy is a
particular case of Shannon's measure of information (SMI), and the
properties and time evolution of the SMI are used to explain the
Second Law of Thermodynamics. This represents a real breakthrough,
as classical thermodynamics cannot explain entropy, nor clarify why
systems should obey the Second Law. Second, this textbook offers
the reader the possibility to get in touch with important and
advanced applications of thermodynamics, to address the topics
discussed in the second part of the book. Although they may go
beyond the content of a typical introductory course on
thermodynamics, some of them can be important in the curriculum
chosen by the student. At the same time, they are of appealing
interest to more advanced scholars.
This textbook introduces thermodynamics with a modern approach,
starting from four fundamental physical facts (the atomic nature of
matter, the indistinguishability of atoms and molecules of the same
species, the uncertainty principle, and the existence of
equilibrium states) and analyzing the behavior of complex systems
with the tools of information theory, in particular with Shannon's
measure of information (or SMI), which can be defined on any
probability distribution. SMI is defined and its properties and
time evolution are illustrated, and it is shown that the entropy is
a particular type of SMI, i.e. the SMI related to the phase-space
distribution for a macroscopic system at equilibrium. The
connection to SMI allows the reader to understand what entropy is
and why isolated systems follow the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
The Second Llaw is also formulated for other systems, not thermally
isolated and even open with respect to the transfer of particles.
All the fundamental aspects of thermodynamics are derived and
illustrated with several examples in the first part of the book.
The second part addresses important applications of thermodynamics,
covering phase transitions, mixtures and solutions (including the
Kirkwood-Buff approach and solvation thermodynamics), chemical
equilibrium, and the outstanding properties of water.This textbook
is unique in two aspects. First, thermodynamics is introduced with
a novel approach, based on information theory applied to
macroscopic systems at equilibrium. It is shown that entropy is a
particular case of Shannon's measure of information (SMI), and the
properties and time evolution of the SMI are used to explain the
Second Law of Thermodynamics. This represents a real breakthrough,
as classical thermodynamics cannot explain entropy, nor clarify why
systems should obey the Second Law. Second, this textbook offers
the reader the possibility to get in touch with important and
advanced applications of thermodynamics, to address the topics
discussed in the second part of the book. Although they may go
beyond the content of a typical introductory course on
thermodynamics, some of them can be important in the curriculum
chosen by the student. At the same time, they are of appealing
interest to more advanced scholars.
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