Browsing by Author "Cordaro, Enrique G."

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    Natural Fractals as Irreversible Disorder: Entropy Approach from Cracks in the Semi Brittle-Ductile Lithosphere and Generalization
    (2022) Venegas Aravena, Patricio; Cordaro, Enrique G.; Laroze, David
    The seismo-electromagnetic theory describes the growth of fractally distributed cracks within the lithosphere that generate the emission of magnetic anomalies prior to large earthquakes. One of the main physical properties of this theory is their consistency regarding the second law of thermodynamics. That is, the crack generation of the lithosphere corresponds to the manifestation of an irreversible process evolving from one steady state to another. Nevertheless, there is still not a proper thermodynamic description of lithospheric crack generation. That is why this work presents the derivation of the entropy changes generated by the lithospheric cracking. It is found that the growth of the fractal cracks increases the entropy prior impending earthquakes. As fractality is observed across different topics, our results are generalized by using the Onsager’s coefficient for any system characterized by fractal volumes. It is found that the growth of fractality in nature corresponds to an irreversible process.
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    Subduction as a Smoothing Machine: How Multiscale Dissipation Relates Precursor Signals to Fault Geometry
    (2023) Venegas Aravena, Patricio; Cordaro, Enrique G.
    Understanding the process of earthquake preparation is of utmost importance in mitigating the potential damage caused by seismic events. That is why the study of seismic precursors is fundamental. However, the community studying non-seismic precursors relies on measurements, methods, and theories that lack a causal relationship with the earthquakes they claim to predict, generating skepticism among classical seismologists. Nonetheless, in recent years, a group has emerged that seeks to bridge the gap between these communities by applying fundamental laws of physics, such as the application of the second law of thermodynamics in multiscale systems. These systems, characterized by describing irreversible processes, are described by a global parameter called thermodynamic fractal dimension, denoted as D. A decrease in D indicates that the system starts seeking to release excess energy on a macroscopic scale, increasing entropy. It has been found that the decrease in D prior to major earthquakes is related to the increase in the size of microcracks and the emission of electromagnetic signals in localized zones, as well as the decrease in the ratio of large to small earthquakes known as the b-value. However, it is still necessary to elucidate how D, which is also associated with the roughness of surfaces, relates to other rupture parameters such as residual energy, magnitude, or fracture energy. Hence, this work establishes analytical relationships among them. Particularly, it is found that larger magnitude earthquakes with higher residual energy are associated with smoother faults. This indicates that the pre-seismic processes, which give rise to both seismic and non-seismic precursor signals, must also be accompanied by changes in the geometric properties of faults. Therefore, it can be concluded that all types of precursors (seismic or non-seismic), changes in fault smoothness, and the occurrence of earthquakes are different manifestations of the same multiscale dissipative system.
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    The Nath-Luxuriæ principles: Unified thermodynamic framework for molecular assembly and non-ergodicity via ATP synthesis/hydrolysis example
    (2025) Venegas Aravena, Patricio; Cordaro, Enrique G.
    Nath's principle posits that the maximization of free energy dissipation () under specific constraints facilitates the function and assembly of complex organic molecules under specific constraints, challenging the classical view that increased dissipation leads to disorder. To ground this principle in thermodynamics, this study establishes a connection between Nath's principle and a principle applicable beyond biological systems: the Principium Luxuriæ. The latter describes how multiscale systems dissipate energy in response to external forces. The conceptual equivalence of both principles is demonstrated, supporting Nath's unified theory of ATP synthesis/hydrolysis and the existence of non-equilibrium mechanisms for cellular energy dissipation, conservation, and storage. This connection is reinforced by a mathematical relationship demonstrating a negative correlation between and the thermodynamic fractal dimension (), a parameter quantifying multiscale dissipation in the Principium Luxuriæ. Furthermore, a relationship is established between the equations governing homeostasis and free energy. Given that the multiscale description is predicated on constraints imposed by external forces, which limit possible molecular configurations, the non-ergodic nature of biological systems described by Nath's principle is validated. A comparative analysis is conducted, contrasting these Nath-Luxuriæ principles with Prigogine's work (which describes ergodic systems) in their application to the thermodynamic evolution of biological systems and the constraints present on Earth for the formation of life. It is suggested that the Nath-Luxuriæ principles may significantly enhance the probability of assembling complex molecules necessary for life.