Time is entropy: A geometric proof

TL;DR

This paper uses geometrothermodynamics to interpret entropy as a time parameter, revealing a geometric structure of equilibrium states and the arrow of time in thermodynamic systems.

Contribution

It introduces thermodynamic geodesics and demonstrates that entropy can serve as a local time parameter in equilibrium and near-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Findings

Equilibrium space divided into reachable and forbidden regions by thermodynamic geodesics.

Entropy increases linearly along thermodynamic geodesics, acting as a time parameter.

Entropy can be interpreted as a local notion of time in thermodynamic systems.

Abstract

We analyze the equilibrium space of an ideal gas using the formalism of geometrothermodynamics. We introduce the concept of thermodynamic geodesics to show that the equilibrium space around a particular initial state can be divided into two regions, one that can be reached using thermodynamic geodesics and the second one forbidden by the second law of thermodynamics. Moreover, we show that, along thermodynamic geodesics, entropy is a linear function of the affine parameter, indicating that it can be used as a time parameter with a particular arrow of time determined by the direction in which entropy increases. We argue that entropy can also be interpreted locally as time in the case of any thermodynamic system in equilibrium and systems described within the scope of linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics.