Published October 15, 2006 | Version v1
Journal article

Thermodynamics of an accelerated expanding universe

  • 1. Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, C.P.66.318, CEP 05315-970, Sao Paulo (Brazil)
  • 2. Institute of Modern Physics and College of Electronic Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065 (China)
  • 3. Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China)

Description

We investigate the laws of thermodynamics in an accelerating universe driven by dark energy with a time-dependent equation of state. In the case we consider that the physically relevant part of the Universe is that enveloped by the dynamical apparent horizon, we have shown that both the first law and second law of thermodynamics are satisfied. On the other hand, if the boundary of the Universe is considered to be the cosmological event horizon the thermodynamical description based on the definitions of boundary entropy and temperature breaks down. No parameter redefinition can rescue the thermodynamics laws from such a fate, rendering the cosmological event horizon unphysical from the point of view of the laws of thermodynamics

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
74
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
p. 083520-083520.7
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
38039211
Subject category
S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
Descriptors DEI
COSMOLOGY; ENTROPY; EQUATIONS OF STATE; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; THERMODYNAMICS; TIME DEPENDENCE; UNIVERSE
Descriptors DEC
EQUATIONS; MATTER; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2006 The American Physical Society