Dissipative system

:Another meaning of "dissipative system" is one that dissipates heat, see heat dissipation.

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A dissipative system (or dissipative structure) is an open system which is operating far from thermodynamic equilibrium within an environment that exchanges energy, matter or entropy. A dissipative system is characterized by the spontaneous appearance of a complex, sometimes chaotic, structure. The term dissipative structures was coined by Ilya Prigogine.

Related Topics:
Open system - Thermodynamic equilibrium - Energy - Matter - Entropy - Chaotic - Ilya Prigogine

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A simple example is the Bénard cells. More complex examples include lasers, Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, or even life itself.

Related Topics:
Bénard cells - Laser - Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction - Life

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