Quantum Limits to the Second Law of Thermodynamics

[vlad]

intensive discussion on 2. law, amongst others in relation to nanotech

http://www.ipmt-hpm.ac.ru/SecondLaw/
preface
The second law of thermodynamics is undoubtedly one of the most known
statements of physics. Arthur Eddington wrote in 1948 (A.S. Eddington, The
Nature of the Physical World, Macmillan, New York, 1948, p. 74): ?The second
law of thermodynamics holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of
Nature. If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is
in disagreement with Maxwell's equations - then so much the worse for
Maxwell's equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation, well,
these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes. But if your theory is
found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I can give you no hope;
there is nothing for it but collapse in deepest humiliation.? Nevertheless
some scientists challenge the second law from time to time, with an
essential benefit for science in any cases. The most known challenge - the
Maxwell's demon, proposed in 1867, is continued to discuss already during
more than century with the benefit not only for physics. The incarnations of
the Maxwell demon have given and give new knowledge into many disciplines,
in particular the information theory. The other enough well known challenge
is the ratchet/pawl combination considered first by Richard Feynmann.

The absolute status of the second law and new challenges to it emerging in
few last years will be discussed at the First International Conference on
Quantum Limits to the Second Law which will be held at the University of San
Diego San Diego, CA; July 29-31, 2002 http://www.sandiego.edu/secondlaw2002.
We open this website since few people only can reach to San Diego and since
three days is too short space of time in order to discuss such problem as
the absolute status of the second law. The website allows everyone to get to
know with new challenges to the second law, criticism of these challenges
and to submit their own works with comments, criticism and others concerning
the absolute status of the second law and adjoining problems. The submitted
papers should be preferably in TeX or LaTeX but can be in PDF or PostScript
formats.



specific article:

Why Do We Believe in the Second Law?
http://proceedings.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=APCPC
S000643000001000424000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=Yes


cheers,
Hauke