We examine the thermodynamic evolution of various evolving systems, from primitive physical systems to complex living systems, and conclude that they involve similar processes which are phenomenological manifestations of the second law of thermodynamics. We take the reformulated second law of thermodynamics of Hatsopoulos and Keenan and Kestin and extend it to nonequilibrium regions, where none...

The essential postulates of classical thermodynamics are formulated, from which the second law is deduced as the principle of increase of entropy in irreversible adiabatic processes that take one equilibrium state to another. The entropy constructed here is defined only for equilibrium states and no attempt is made to define it otherwise. Statistical mechanics does not enter these consideration...

In a macroscopic (quantum or classical) Hamiltonian system, we prove the second law of thermodynamics in the forms of the minimum work principle and the law of entropy increase, under the assumption that the initial state is described by a general equilibrium distribution. Therefore the second law is a logical necessity once we accept equilibrium statistical mechanics. Note added (December, 200...

We study the full history of the universe in the presence of inflaton, matter, radiation, and holographic dark energy. The time evolution of the scale factor is obtained by solving the Friedmann equation of the universe without artificial ansatz. We discuss that the second law of thermodynamics dictates the accelerating expansion of the dark energy dominant phase to the universe. In addition, w...

Thermodynamics second law and ω = −1 crossing(s) in interacting holographic dark energy model Abstract By the assumption that the thermodynamics second law is valid, we study the possibility of ω = −1 crossing in an interacting holographic dark energy model. Depending on the choice of the horizon and the interaction, the transition from quintessence to phantom regime and subsequently from phant...

One finds, in Maxwell’s writings on thermodynamics and statistical physics, a conception of the nature of these subjects that differs in interesting ways from the way that they are usually conceived. In particular, though—in agreement with the currently accepted view—Maxwell maintains that the second law of thermodynamics, as originally conceived, cannot be strictly true, the replacement he pro...

Thermodynamics second law and ω = −1 crossing(s) in interacting holographic dark energy model Abstract By the assumption that the thermodynamics second law is valid, we study the possibility of ω = −1 crossing in an interacting holographic dark energy model. Depending on the choice of the horizon and the interaction, the transition from quintessence to phantom regime and subsequently from phant...