Equilibrium state and non-equilibrium steady state in an isolated human system

Abstract

The principle of increasing entropy (PIE) is commonly considered as a universal physical law for natural systems. It also means that a non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) must not appear in any isolated natural systems. Here we experimentally investigate an isolated human social system with a clustering effect. We report that the PIE cannot always hold, and that NESSs can come to appear. Our study highlights the role of human adaptability in the PIE, and makes it possible to study human social systems by using some laws originating from traditional physics.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

equilibrium state / non-equilibrium steady state / human system / principle of increasing entropy / clustering effect / random network