
The Road to Maxwell's Demon
Conceptual Foundations of Statistical Mechanics
Cambridge University Press
Published on 20. September 2012
Book
Hardback
337 pages
978-1-107-01968-3 (ISBN)
Description
Time asymmetric phenomena are successfully predicted by statistical mechanics. Yet the foundations of this theory are surprisingly shaky. Its explanation for the ease of mixing milk with coffee is incomplete, and even implies that un-mixing them should be just as easy. In this book the authors develop a new conceptual foundation for statistical mechanics that addresses this difficulty. Explaining the notions of macrostates, probability, measurement, memory, and the arrow of time in statistical mechanics, they reach the startling conclusion that Maxwell's Demon, the famous perpetuum mobile, is consistent with the fundamental physical laws. Mathematical treatments are avoided where possible, and instead the authors use novel diagrams to illustrate the text. This is a fascinating book for graduate students and researchers interested in the foundations and philosophy of physics.
Reviews / Votes
'The Road to Maxwell's Demon is an exceptionally clear and readable book, intended for readers without physics or philosophy backgrounds. It is also a highly original and important contribution to the foundations of physics. It goes against much of the received wisdom and offers novel solutions to many problems: among them, discussions of time asymmetry in classical mechanics, an empiricist alternative to typicality, a criticism of the role of ergodicity, the notion of a physical observer and the irrelevance of information theory to the foundations of statistical mechanics. Readers interested in the foundations of physics will welcome such a fresh outlook on these topics.' Amit Hagar, MetascienceMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
105 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
644 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-01968-3 (9781107019683)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Meir Hemmo | Orly R. Shenker
The Road to Maxwell's Demon
Conceptual Foundations of Statistical Mechanics
Book
07/2014
Cambridge University Press
€67.40
Shipment within 15-20 days

Meir Hemmo | Orly R. Shenker
The Road to Maxwell's Demon
Conceptual Foundations of Statistical Mechanics
E-Book
09/2012
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€44.49
Available for download

E-Book
09/2012
Cambridge University Press
€37.99
Available for download
Persons
Meir Hemmo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy, University of Haifa. He has written on various issues in the foundations of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. Orly Shenker is a Senior Lecturer for the Program in History and Philosophy of Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has written on the foundations of classical and quantum statistical mechanics and on the rationality of science.
Content
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Thermodynamics; 3. Classical mechanics; 4. Time; 5. Macrostates; 6. Probability; 7. Entropy; 8. Typicality; 9. Measurement; 10. The past; 11. Gibbs; 12. Erasure; 13. Maxwell's Demon; Appendixes; References; Index.