Open AccessResearch in entropy wonterland: A review of the entropy concept
Author(s) -
E Marko Popovic
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
thermal science/thermal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.339
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2334-7163
pISSN - 0354-9836
DOI - 10.2298/tsci180115012p
Subject(s) - entropy (arrow of time) , thermodynamics , mathematics , statistical physics , mathematical economics , physics
The entropy concept was introduced in the mid-nineteenth century by Clausius and has been continually enriched, developed, and interpreted by researchers in many scientific disciplines. The use of entropy in a wide range of fields has led to inconsistencies in its application and interpretation, as summarized by von Neuman ?No one knows what entropy really is.? To resolve this problem, thermodynamics and other scientific disciplines face several crucial questions concerning the entropy concept: (1) What is the physical meaning of entropy? (2) Is entropy a subjective or an objective property? (3) How to apply entropy to living organisms? To answer these questions, this paper describes the roots, the conceptual history of this important concept, as well as the path of development and application in various scientific disciplines, including classical thermodynamics, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and life sciences.This article has been retracted. Link to the retraction 10.2298/TSCI180730231E