SUMMARY:
In this webinar we explore the consequences of three demons that checker the past of thermodynamics. The first demon - Loschmidt's demon - threatens our understanding of the source of time-asymmetry. If we had the power to reverse the momenta of molecules in a gas, would we see the past unwind before our eyes? If so, why don't we ever see this?
The second demon is the famous Maxwell's demon. Unlike in Maxwell's time, we can manipulate individual molecules, just like the demon does. But somehow we can't violate the second law; a fascinating connection between thermodynamics and information lies at the heart of the explanation.
The third and final demon is Laplace's demon; an all-knowing intelligence with unlimited powers of calculation and computation. If this demon knows everything, what do the probabilities of statistical mechanics look like to them? We will explore one quantum way to avoid the demon's conclusion that these probabilities merely reflect our human ignorance.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the different thought experiments, or 'demons,' that shine a light on puzzles of thermodynamics
- Understand why the second law cannot truly be violated by Maxwell's demon
- Consider how quantum theory helps us untangle some of the puzzles created by these demons
Who Should Attend:
- Students studying thermodynamics
- Anyone interested in the history, philosophy and foundations of physics