Thermodynamic Entropy as a Noether Invariant from Contact Geometry

Entropy (Basel). 2023 Jul 19;25(7):1082. doi: 10.3390/e25071082.

Abstract

We use a formulation of Noether's theorem for contact Hamiltonian systems to derive a relation between the thermodynamic entropy and the Noether invariant associated with time-translational symmetry. In the particular case of thermostatted systems at equilibrium, we show that the total entropy of the system plus the reservoir are conserved as a consequence thereof. Our results contribute to understanding thermodynamic entropy from a geometric point of view.

Keywords: Hamiltonian systems; Noether’s theorem; contact geometry; entropy; thermostatted systems.