Optimizing entropy bounds for macroscopic systems

Abstract

The universal bound on specific entropy was originally inferred from black hole thermodynamics. We here show from classical thermodynamics alone that for a system at fixed volume or fixed pressure, the ratio of entropy to nonrelativistic energy has a unique maximum $(S/E)_\mathrm{max}$. A simple argument from quantum dynamics allows one to set a model--independent upper bound on $(S/E)_\mathrm{max}$ which is usually much tighter than the universal bound. We illustrate with two examples.