In the fulfillment of a goal envisioned by Gibbs, the laws of thermodynamics have been written in the form of a Euclidian metric geometry; its formulas can be read off from simple diagrams.
It is perhaps appropriate that, in a year marking the 100th anniversary of his landmark paper in thermodynamics, new developments should call fresh attention to the special beauty and profundity of the work of J. Willard Gibbs. Recent work has proved the possibility of constructing a new representation of equilibrium thermodynamics, one that is couched in a mathematical language—an intrinsically geometrical structure—quite different from that generally employed.
2. H. B. Callen, Thermodynamics, John Wiley, New York (1960), page 48.
3. J. W. Gibbs, Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci. 2, 309, 382 (1873); https://doi.org/TCAAAL The Collected Works of J. Willard Gibbs, Longmans, Green, New York (1928); Dover, New York (1961); volume I, pages 1, 33.
4. P. Dennery, A. Krzywicki, Mathematics for Physicists, Harper and Row, New York (1967), page 109.
The thermodynamic and quantum mechanical properties of topological insulators provide a path toward scalable energy storage in information-based batteries.
At the end of the turbulent 1960s, the postwar funding boom in US physics came to a crashing halt. The lessons learned then may be helpful to today’s physicists.
Interviews with 22 successful early-career physical scientists and engineers reveal that networking has been one of the most critical ways to nurture their careers.
September 30, 2026 05:46 PM
This Content Appeared In
Volume 29, Number 3
Get PT newsletters in your inbox
PT The Week in Physics
A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.
One email per week
PT New Issue Alert
Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.
One email per month
PT Webinars & White Papers
The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.