Thermodynamic Entropy as a Noether Invariant

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Apr 8;116(14):140601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.140601. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Abstract

We study a classical many-particle system with an external control represented by a time-dependent extensive parameter in a Lagrangian. We show that thermodynamic entropy of the system is uniquely characterized as the Noether invariant associated with a symmetry for an infinitesimal nonuniform time translation t→t+ηℏβ, where η is a small parameter, ℏ is the Planck constant, β is the inverse temperature that depends on the energy and control parameter, and trajectories in the phase space are restricted to those consistent with quasistatic processes in thermodynamics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't