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Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics gives new insights into the Gibbs paradox

20 Mar 2021 Lisa Tse 
A cartoon showing an ignorant observer in the classical world (represented by a sad-faced stick figure and a fuel gauge on empty, indicating that no work can be done), contrasted with an ignorant observer in the quantum world (a smiling stick figure with a full fuel tank) who is able to extract work from the system (represented by a divided box containing red gas on one side and blue gas on the other, and by an undivided box containing purple mixed gas)
Ignorance is bliss A cartoon depicting the differences between 'ignorant' observers of mixing gases in the classical and quantum versions of the Gibbs paradox. (Courtesy: Bethan Morris, PhD student at University of Nottingham)
Entropy has been a subject of debate among physicists ever since it was formulated in classical ther

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Lisa Tse is a PhD student contributor to Physics World. Lisa studies quantum-inspired machine-learning algorithms at University College London. Find out more about our student contributor networks
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