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The Entropy of the Universe and the Maximum Entropy Production Principle

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Beyond the Second Law

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

Abstract

If the universe had been born in a high entropy, equilibrium state, there would be no stars, no planets and no life. Thus, the initial low entropy of the universe is the fundamental reason why we are here. However, we have a poor understanding of why the initial entropy was low and of the relationship between gravity and entropy. We are also struggling with how to meaningfully define the maximum entropy of the universe. This is important because the entropy gap between the maximum entropy of the universe and the actual entropy of the universe is a measure of the free energy left in the universe to drive all processes. I review these entropic issues and the entropy budget of the universe. I argue that the low initial entropy of the universe could be the result of the inflationary origin of matter from unclumpable false vacuum energy. The entropy of massive black holes dominates the entropy budget of the universe. The entropy of a black hole is proportional to the square of its mass. Therefore, determining whether the Maximum Entropy Production Principle (MaxEP) applies to the entropy of the universe is equivalent to determining whether the accretion disks around black holes are maximally efficient at dumping mass onto the central black hole. In an attempt to make this question more precise, I review the magnetic angular momentum transport mechanisms of accretion disks that are responsible for increasing the masses of black holes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planetary Science Institute, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Charles H. Lineweaver

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  1. Charles H. Lineweaver
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Correspondence to Charles H. Lineweaver .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Australian National University, Research School of Biology, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Roderick C. Dewar

  2. Australian National University, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Earth Sciences, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Charles H. Lineweaver

  3. School of Engineering and Information Technology, University of New South Wales at ADFA, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Robert K. Niven

  4. School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, Crawley, West Australia, Australia

    Klaus Regenauer-Lieb

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Lineweaver, C.H. (2014). The Entropy of the Universe and the Maximum Entropy Production Principle. In: Dewar, R., Lineweaver, C., Niven, R., Regenauer-Lieb, K. (eds) Beyond the Second Law. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40154-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40154-1_22

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-40154-1

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