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Thermodynamic Theory for Simple and Complex Dissipative Structures

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Abstract

Dissipative structures (DS) exist at all scales, systems, and at different levels of complexity. A thermodynamic theory integrating simple and complex DS is introduced, which addresses existence of growing/decaying DS based on their entropy analysis. Two entropy-based dimensionless ratios are introduced, which explain negentropy-debt payment and existence of DS with growth or decay. It is shown that excess negentropy debt payment is needed and beneficial for growing DS; but for decaying DS, it hastens its approach to perish and is counter-productive. Growing complex DS tend to pay lower negentropy debt to their surroundings, due to involvement in other activities enabled by complexity; e.g. mediation for survival that is linked to their mortality. Hence, disorder of complex DS increases, due to which, their growth can be un-sustained, leading to entry in decay-phase in spite of availability of adequate mass-energy in-flows. Proper handling or reduction of complexity enables growth in the direction of ideal growth (without increase in disorder of DS), which is limited only by availability of adequate mass-energy in-flows.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to research project nos. (i) RI/0100-10000483 (PGRDFI00009 = Personal Research Development Fund of Shripad P. Mahulikar @ IIT-Bombay), (ii) RI/0210-10000483-001 (10IRAWD005 = Industrial Research & Consultancy Center – Awards Research Project of Shripad P. Mahulikar @ IIT-Bombay); for the sponsorship.

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  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Pallavi Rastogi & Shripad P. Mahulikar

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  1. Pallavi Rastogi
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Correspondence to Shripad P. Mahulikar.

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Rastogi, P., Mahulikar, S.P. Thermodynamic Theory for Simple and Complex Dissipative Structures. Found Phys 51, 71 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-021-00473-6

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