Optimizing entropy bounds for macroscopic systems

Abstract

The universal bound on specific entropy was originally inferred from black hole thermodynamics. We here show from classical thermodynamics alone that for a system at fixed volume or fixed pressure, the ratio of entropy to nonrelativistic energy has a unique maximum $(S/E{)}_{\max }$. A simple argument from quantum dynamics allows one to set a model--independent upper bound on $(S/E{)}_{\max }$ which is usually much tighter than the universal bound. We illustrate with two examples.

13 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX

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• Quasiparticle picture from the Bekenstein bound