Multiscale Thermodynamics

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.