Blog Archives

Thermodynamic Entropy from Sadi Carnot’s Cycle using Gauss’ and Doll’s-Tensor Molecular Dynamics

Hoover William G., Hoover Carol G.

Carnot’s four-part ideal-gas cycle includes both isothermal and adiabatic expansions and compressions. Analyzing this cycle provides the fundamental basis for statistical thermodynamics. We explore the cycle here from a pedagogical view in order to promote understanding of the macroscopic therm ...

Computational Implementation of Maxwell’s Knudsen-Gas Demon and Its Extension to a Two-Dimensional Soft-Disk Fluid

Hoover William G., Hoover Carol G.

An interesting preprint by Puru Gujrati, “Maxwell’s Demon Must Remain Subservient to Clausius’ Statement” [of the Second Law of Thermodynamics], traces the development and application of Maxwell’s Demon. He argues against the Demon on thermodynamic grounds. Gujrati introduces and uses h ...