Von Neumann's entropy does not correspond to thermodynamic entropy

Meir Hemmo; Orly Shenker

doi:10.1086/510816

Von Neumann's entropy does not correspond to thermodynamic entropy

Meir Hemmo, Orly Shenker

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Von Neumann argued by means of a thought experiment involving measurements of spin observables that the quantum mechanical quantity S_VN = -kTr(ρlogρ) is conceptually equivalent to thermodynamic entropy. We analyze Von Neumann's thought experiment and show that his argument fails.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	153-174
Number of pages	22
Journal	Philosophy of Science
Volume	73
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/510816
State	Published - Apr 2006

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Philosophy
History and Philosophy of Science

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Von Neumann's entropy does not correspond to thermodynamic entropy

Abstract

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