Understanding Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics

Our time is characterized by an explosion of information and by an accel- ation of knowledge. A book cannot compete with the huge amount of data available on the Web. However, to assimilate all this information, it is n- essary to structure our knowledge in a useful conceptual framework. The purpose of the present work is to provide such a structure for students and researchers interested by the current state of the art of non-equilibrium th- modynamics. The main features of the book are a concise and critical pres- tation of the basic ideas, illustrated by a series of examples, selected not only for their pedagogical value but also for the perspectives o?ered by recent technological advances. This book is aimed at students and researchers in physics, chemistry, engineering, material sciences, and biology. We have been guided by two apparently antagonistic objectives: gener- ity and simplicity. To make the book accessible to a large audience of n- specialists, we have decided about a simpli?ed but rigorous presentation. Emphasis is put on the underlying physical background without sacri?cing mathematical rigour, the several formalisms being illustrated by a list of - amplesandproblems. Alloverthiswork,wehavebeenguidedbytheformula: ¿Getthemorefromtheless¿,withthepurposetomakeamaximumofpeople aware of a maximum of knowledge from a minimum of basic tools. Besidesbeinganintroductorytext,ourobjectiveistopresentanoverview, as general as possible, of the more recent developments in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, especially beyond the local equilibrium description.