Divergent specific heat at zero Kelvins: breakdown of the Third law of thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the third law of thermodynamics can be violated in certain fermionic systems, as their specific heat diverges at zero Kelvin, challenging a fundamental principle of physics.

Contribution

The study provides the first theoretical evidence that the third law of thermodynamics does not hold universally, showing specific heat divergence in specific fermionic systems at absolute zero.

Findings

Specific heat diverges at 0 K in certain fermionic systems

Challenges the universality of the third law of thermodynamics

Suggests need to revise fundamental thermodynamic laws

Abstract

Thermodynamics, the branch of physics concerned with the description of macroscopic bodies, heat exchange and the conversion of different forms of energy is based on four laws: the zeroth law, which states that bodies in thermal contact reach a state of thermal equilibrium, the first law, which postulates the energy conservation and establishes the way in which different forms of energy transform into each-other, the second law, which states that the entropy increases or stays constant in time in any isolated system, and, finally, the third law (or Nernst postulate), which states that the entropy of any system approaches a constant minimum when temperature approaches 0 K. One of the direct consequences of the third law is that the specific heat of any system converges to zero when its temperature decreases to zero Kelvins. Here we show that the third law is violated in a wide class of fermionic systems, by calculating the specific heat and showing that it diverges to infinity when the absolute zero temperature is approached. Until now, no exception to these four laws is know in physics. These findings ask for the revision of one of the most fundamental laws of nature.