A thermodynamic-like approach for the study of probabilistic systems

Diógenes Campos

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2011, vol. 390, issue 2, 214-222

Abstract: This paper starts by considering an arbitrary system for which the probability distribution P:={P1,P2,…,PN} of a measurable property, with N possible independent results, is known. By using the Hartley information (pseudo-energy), the escort probabilities of P and its Shannon entropy, a thermodynamic-like formalism is developed, including the deduction of the fundamental equation for the mean value of the pseudo-energies. Thus, the method allows a macrodescription of the system that is based on a purely mathematical procedure and involves thermodynamic-like variables. As a specific example we consider a bank that measures customer satisfaction by doing a statistical survey (satisfied or unsatisfied customers).

Keywords: Probability distribution; Hartley information; Escort probabilities; Shannon entropy; Thermodynamic description (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:390:y:2011:i:2:p:214-222

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.09.023

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