Does the entropy of the Universe tend to a maximum?

2012/09/13 by Diego Pavón, Ninfa Radicella · 85 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Dark energy #Differential geometry #Entropy (arrow of time) #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Geometry #Hubble's law #Mathematics #Physics #Principle of maximum entropy #Quantum mechanics #Statistics #Theoretical physics #gr-qc

paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10714-012-1457-x

published in General Relativity and Gravitation 45(1), 63-68 (Springer Science+Business Media) · 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication on Gen. Rel. Grav

arxiv created 2012/09/13 · openalex publication_date 2012/09/29 · arxiv updated 2015/06/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Ordinary, macroscopic systems, naturally tend to a state of maximum entropy compatible with their constraints. However, this might not hold for gravity-dominated systems since their entropy may increase without bound unless this is precluded by the formation of a black hole. In this short note we suggest, based on the Hubble expansion history, that our Universe likely behaves as an ordinary system, i.e., that its entropy seems to tend to some maximum value.

Citations

• Measurements of Ω and Λ from 42 High‐Redshift Supernovae
• Radiative seesaw in SO(10) with dark matter
• Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant
• Generalized second law of thermodynamics in black-hole physics
• FIVE-YEARWILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBEOBSERVATIONS: COSMOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION

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