1206.5727 (Bernhard Baumgartner)

Characterizing Entropy in Statistical Physics and in Quantum Information
Theory    [PDF]

Bernhard Baumgartner

A new axiomatic characterization with a minimum of conditions for entropy as a function on the set of states in quantum mechanics is presented. Traditionally unspoken assumptions are unveiled and replaced by proven consequences of the axioms. First the Boltzmann-Planck formula is derived. Building on this formula, using the Law of Large Numbers - a basic theorem of probability theory - the von Neumann formula is deduced. Axioms used in older theories on the foundations are now derived facts.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.5727