Multiscale Thermodynamics

TL;DR

Multiscale thermodynamics extends classical thermodynamics to analyze complex systems across multiple levels, including far-from-equilibrium processes, by formulating a unified theoretical framework applicable at microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales.

Contribution

This paper formulates the multiscale thermodynamics theory, explaining its origins and illustrating its application to mesoscopic dynamics that integrate different investigation levels.

Findings

Unified framework for multiscale thermodynamics

Application to far-from-equilibrium systems

Illustration of mesoscopic dynamics combining levels

Abstract

Multiscale thermodynamics is a theory of relations among levels of investigation of complex systems. It includes the classical equilibrium thermodynamics as a special case but it is applicable to both static and time evolving processes in externally and internally driven macroscopic systems that are far from equilibrium and are investigated on microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic levels. In this paper we formulate the multiscale thermodynamics, explain its origin, and illustrate it in mesoscopic dynamics that combines levels.