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Rethinking Boltzmannian Equilibrium

Werndl, Charlotte and Frigg, Roman (2014) Rethinking Boltzmannian Equilibrium. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Boltzmannian statistical mechanics partitions the phase space into macro- regions, and the largest of these is identified with equilibrium.
What justifies this identification? Common answers focus on Boltzmann's combinatorial argument, the Maxwell-Boltzmann
distribution, and maximum entropy considerations. We argue that they fail and present a new answer. We characterise
equilibrium as the macrostate in which the system spends most of its time and prove a new theorem establishing that equilibrium thus defined corresponds to the largest macroregion. Our derivation is completely general in that it does not rely on assumptions about the system's dynamics or internal interactions.


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Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Werndl, Charlottec.s.werndl@lse.ac.uk
Frigg, Romanr.p.frigg@lse.ac.uk
Additional Information: Forthcoming in: Philosophy of Science
Keywords: statistical mechanics, Boltzmann, equilibrium, approach to equilibrium, thermodynamic-like behaviour
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: Charlotte Werndl
Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2014 14:39
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2014 14:39
Item ID: 10756
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: 2014
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10756

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