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Boltzmann entropy of a Newtonian Universe

Quantum Physics 2023-07-19 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

A dynamical estimate is given for the Boltzmann entropy of the Universe, under the simplifying assumptions provided by Newtonian cosmology. We first model the cosmological fluid as the probability fluid of a quantum-mechanical system. Next, following current ideas about the emergence of spacetime, we regard gravitational equipotentials as isoentropic surfaces. Therefore gravitational entropy is proportional to the vacuum expectation value of the gravitational potential in a certain quantum state describing the matter contents of the Universe. The entropy of the matter sector can also be computed. While providing values of the entropy that turn out to be somewhat higher than existing estimates, our results are in perfect compliance with the upper bound set by the holographic principle.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.1703.08082,
  title  = {Boltzmann entropy of a Newtonian Universe},
  author = {D. Cabrera and P. Fernandez de Cordoba and J. M. Isidro},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1703.08082},
  year   = {2023}
}

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15 pages