The second law and quantum physics

Abstract

In this talk, I discuss the mystery of the second law and its relation to quantum information. There are many explanations of the second law, mostly satisfactory and not mutually exclusive. Here, I advocate quantum, mechanics and quantum, information as something that, through entanglement, helps resolve the paradox or the puzzle of the origin of the second law. I will discuss the interpretation called quantum Darwinism and how it helps explain why our world seems so classical, and what it has to say about the permanence or transience of infonnation. And I will discuss a simple model illustrating why systems away from thermal equilibrium tend to be more complicated. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.