What Are the Current Unresolved Problems in Thermodynamics?

[Geremia]

What are some currently unresolved problem in thermodynamics? Thanks

 

[Andy Resnick]

The biggest unsolved problem is Non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

 

[Geremia]

The biggest unsolved problem is Non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

What specifically about it? What are some of the top papers exploring non-equilibrium thermodynamics? Thanks

 

[Andy Resnick]

Pretty much *everything* about nonequilibrium thermodynamics is unsolved- one simple problem is to define 'temperature', for example.

As for 'top papers', there is no shortage of papers, monographs, and books- many available online for free. Try a few, decide which 'makes sense' or speaks to you in a simple way, and read it carefully.