Article
Remarks on Entropy and Irreversibility in Non-Hamiltonian Systems
Physics Letters A
(1986)
Abstract
Entropy and irreversibility in non-hamiltonian systems are discussed from a fully covariant point of view. The discussion is based on the generalized Liouville equation, the definition of a volume element dV in state space, and a generalized hypothesis of equal a priori probabilities. Systems may be classified as reversible or irreversible according to whether it is or is not possible to define dV so that the flow is globally volume-preserving in state space.
Disciplines
Publication Date
June, 1986
DOI
10.1016/0375-9601(86)90294-X
Publisher Statement
At the time of publication John Ramshaw was affiliated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Citation Information
J. D. Ramshaw, "Remarks on Entropy and Irreversibility in Non-Hamiltonian Systems," Phys. Lett. A 116, 110 (1986).