English

The Boltzmann/Shannon entropy as a measure of correlation

Mathematical Physics 2007-05-23 v1 math.MP

Abstract

IIt is demonstrated that the entropy of statistical mechanics and of information theory, S(p)=pilogpiS({\bf p}) = -\sum p_i \log p_i may be viewed as a measure of correlation. Given a probability distribution on two discrete variables, pijp_{ij}, we define the correlation-destroying transformation C:pijπijC: p_{ij} \to \pi_{ij}, which creates a new distribution on those same variables in which no correlation exists between the variables, i.e. πij=PiQj\pi_{ij} = P_i Q_j. It is then shown that the entropy obeys the relation S(p)S(π)=S(P)+S(Q)S({\bf p}) \leq S({\bf \pi}) = S({\bf P}) + S({\bf Q}), i.e. the entropy is non-decreasing under these correlation-destroying transformations.

Cite

@article{arxiv.math-ph/0001024,
  title  = {The Boltzmann/Shannon entropy as a measure of correlation},
  author = {John H. Van Drie},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math-ph/0001024},
  year   = {2007}
}