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What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?

A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2009) | Viewed by 86093

Special Issue Editors

Max-Planck-Institut fuer Biogeochemie, Postfach 10 01 64, 07701 Jena, Germany
Interests: biodiversity; maximum entropy production; thermodynamics and optimality in the Earth system; Gaia hypothesis; global dynamic vegetation models
Max Planck Institut für Biogeochemie, Hans Knöll Str. 10, 07745 Jena, Germany

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The proposed principle of Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) states that the steady state of open thermodynamic systems with sufficient degrees of freedom are maintained in a state at which the production of entropy is maximized given the constraints of the system. Similar/related principles have a long history, e.g. the maximum power principle (e.g. applied to biological systems by Lotka in 1922). Recently, it has gained increased attention, and theoretical progress has been made as reflected by a series of papers by Dewar on an information theoretical derivation of this principle. This raises questions about how this principle should be interpreted and applied. This special section would focus on different interpretations by some of the leading researchers in this field.

Format:

- scope: to provide a set of essays to illustrate the different views on the justification and application of the proposed principle of Maximum Entropy Production (MEP).

- motivation: the motivation for the issue comes out of a discussion at a recent workshop held in May 2009 at the Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie in Jena, Germany, on the topic of “Maximum Entropy Production in the Earth System”. This discusion illustrated needs for clarification and interpretation of the different view angles of MEP (MaxEnt interpretation vs. thermodynamic application). The invited and contributed essays of this special section would help to clarify this important theoretical foundation.

James Dyke, Ph. D.
Axel Kleidon, Ph. D.
Guest Editors

Published Papers (8 papers)

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107 KiB  
Article
The Maximum Entropy Production Principle and Linear Irreversible Processes
by Paško Županović, Domagoj Kuić, Željana Bonačić Lošić, Dražen Petrov, Davor Juretić and Milan Brumen
Entropy 2010, 12(5), 996-1005; https://doi.org/10.3390/e12050996 - 27 Apr 2010
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 8693
Abstract
It is shown that Onsager’s principle of the least dissipation of energy is equivalent to the maximum entropy production principle. It is known that solutions of the linearized Boltzmann equation make extrema of entropy production. It is argued, in the case of stationary [...] Read more.
It is shown that Onsager’s principle of the least dissipation of energy is equivalent to the maximum entropy production principle. It is known that solutions of the linearized Boltzmann equation make extrema of entropy production. It is argued, in the case of stationary processes, that this extremum is a maximum rather than a minimum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
73 KiB  
Article
On the Problem of Formulating Principles in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics
by Paško Županović, Domagoj Kuić, Davor Juretić and Andrej Dobovišek
Entropy 2010, 12(4), 926-931; https://doi.org/10.3390/e12040926 - 14 Apr 2010
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 7326
Abstract
In this work, we consider the choice of a system suitable for the formulation of principles in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. It is argued that an isolated system is a much better candidate than a system in contact with a bath. In other words, relaxation [...] Read more.
In this work, we consider the choice of a system suitable for the formulation of principles in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. It is argued that an isolated system is a much better candidate than a system in contact with a bath. In other words, relaxation processes rather than stationary processes are more appropriate for the formulation of principles in nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Arguing that slow varying relaxation can be described with quasi-stationary process, it is shown for two special cases, linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics and linearized Boltzmann equation, that solutions of these problems are in accordance with the maximum entropy production principle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
1221 KiB  
Article
The Maximum Entropy Production Principle: Its Theoretical Foundations and Applications to the Earth System
by James Dyke and Axel Kleidon
Entropy 2010, 12(3), 613-630; https://doi.org/10.3390/e12030613 - 22 Mar 2010
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 15943
Abstract
The Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) principle has been remarkably successful in producing accurate predictions for non-equilibrium states. We argue that this is because the MEP principle is an effective inference procedure that produces the best predictions from the available information. Since all Earth [...] Read more.
The Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) principle has been remarkably successful in producing accurate predictions for non-equilibrium states. We argue that this is because the MEP principle is an effective inference procedure that produces the best predictions from the available information. Since all Earth system processes are subject to the conservation of energy, mass and momentum, we argue that in practical terms the MEP principle should be applied to Earth system processes in terms of the already established framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, with the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium at the appropriate scales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
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93 KiB  
Article
Relaxation Processes and the Maximum Entropy Production Principle
by Paško Županović, Srećko Botrić, Davor Juretić and Domagoj Kuić
Entropy 2010, 12(3), 473-479; https://doi.org/10.3390/e12030473 - 11 Mar 2010
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6677
Abstract
Spontaneous transitions of an isolated system from one macroscopic state to another (relaxation processes) are accompanied by a change of entropy. Following Jaynes’ MaxEnt formalism, it is shown that practically all the possible microscopic developments of a system, within a fixed time interval, [...] Read more.
Spontaneous transitions of an isolated system from one macroscopic state to another (relaxation processes) are accompanied by a change of entropy. Following Jaynes’ MaxEnt formalism, it is shown that practically all the possible microscopic developments of a system, within a fixed time interval, are accompanied by the maximum possible entropy change. In other words relaxation processes are accompanied by maximum entropy production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
380 KiB  
Article
From Maximum Entropy to Maximum Entropy Production: A New Approach
by Nathaniel Virgo
Entropy 2010, 12(1), 107-126; https://doi.org/10.3390/e12010107 - 18 Jan 2010
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 10894
Abstract
Evidence from climate science suggests that a principle of maximum thermodynamic entropy production can be used to make predictions about some physical systems. I discuss the general form of this principle and an inherent problem with it, currently unsolved by theoretical approaches: how [...] Read more.
Evidence from climate science suggests that a principle of maximum thermodynamic entropy production can be used to make predictions about some physical systems. I discuss the general form of this principle and an inherent problem with it, currently unsolved by theoretical approaches: how to determine which system it should be applied to. I suggest a new way to derive the principle from statistical mechanics, and present a tentative solution to the system boundary problem. I discuss the need for experimental validation of the principle, and its impact on the way we see the relationship between thermodynamics and kinetics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
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210 KiB  
Article
Modeling Electric Discharges with Entropy Production Rate Principles
by Thomas Christen
Entropy 2009, 11(4), 1042-1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/e11041042 - 08 Dec 2009
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 11383
Abstract
Under which circumstances are variational principles based on entropy production rate useful tools for modeling steady states of electric (gas) discharge systems far from equilibrium? It is first shown how various different approaches, as Steenbeck’s minimum voltage and Prigogine’s minimum entropy production rate [...] Read more.
Under which circumstances are variational principles based on entropy production rate useful tools for modeling steady states of electric (gas) discharge systems far from equilibrium? It is first shown how various different approaches, as Steenbeck’s minimum voltage and Prigogine’s minimum entropy production rate principles are related to the maximum entropy production rate principle (MEPP). Secondly, three typical examples are discussed, which provide a certain insight in the structure of the models that are candidates for MEPP application. It is then thirdly argued that MEPP, although not being an exact physical law, may provide reasonable model parameter estimates, provided the constraints contain the relevant (nonlinear) physical effects and the parameters to be determined are related to disregarded weak constraints that affect mainly global entropy production. Finally, it is additionally conjectured that a further reason for the success of MEPP in certain far from equilibrium systems might be based on a hidden linearity of the underlying kinetic equation(s). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
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70 KiB  
Article
A Story and a Recommendation about the Principle of Maximum Entropy Production
by Garth W. Paltridge
Entropy 2009, 11(4), 945-948; https://doi.org/10.3390/e11040945 - 30 Nov 2009
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 7895
Abstract
The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) is the subject of considerable academic study, but has yet to become remarkable for its practical applications. A tale is told of an instance in which a spin-off from consideration of an MEP-constrained climate model at [...] Read more.
The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) is the subject of considerable academic study, but has yet to become remarkable for its practical applications. A tale is told of an instance in which a spin-off from consideration of an MEP-constrained climate model at least led to re-consideration of the very practical issue of water-vapour feedback in climate change. Further, and on a more-or-less unrelated matter, a recommendation is made for further research on whether there might exist a general "rule" whereby, for certain classes of complex non-linear systems, a state of maximum entropy production is equivalent to a state of minimum entropy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
268 KiB  
Article
Maximum Entropy Production as an Inference Algorithm that Translates Physical Assumptions into Macroscopic Predictions: Don’t Shoot the Messenger
by Roderick C. Dewar
Entropy 2009, 11(4), 931-944; https://doi.org/10.3390/e11040931 - 27 Nov 2009
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 13365
Abstract
Is Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) a physical principle? In this paper I tentatively suggest it is not, on the basis that MEP is equivalent to Jaynes’ Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) inference algorithm that passively translates physical assumptions into macroscopic predictions, as applied to non-equilibrium [...] Read more.
Is Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) a physical principle? In this paper I tentatively suggest it is not, on the basis that MEP is equivalent to Jaynes’ Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) inference algorithm that passively translates physical assumptions into macroscopic predictions, as applied to non-equilibrium systems. MaxEnt itself has no physical content; disagreement between MaxEnt predictions and experiment falsifies the physical assumptions, not MaxEnt. While it remains to be shown rigorously that MEP is indeed equivalent to MaxEnt for systems arbitrarily far from equilibrium, work in progress tentatively supports this conclusion. In terms of its role within non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, MEP might then be better understood as Messenger of Essential Physics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue What Is Maximum Entropy Production and How Should We Apply It?)
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