Energy Flows in Low-Entropy Complex Systems

Nature's many complex systems--physical, biological, and cultural--are islands of low-entropy order within increasingly disordered seas of surrounding, high-entropy chaos. Energy is a principal facilitator of the rising complexity of all such systems in the expanding Universe, including galaxies, stars, planets, life, society, and machines. A large amount of empirical evidence--relating neither entropy nor information, rather energy--suggests that an underlying simplicity guides the emergence and growth of complexity among many known, highly varied systems in the 14-billion-year-old Universe, from big bang to humankind. Energy flows are as centrally important to life and society as they are to stars and galaxies. In particular, the quantity energy rate density--the rate of energy flow per unit mass--can be used to explicate in a consistent, uniform, and unifying way a huge collection of diverse complex systems observed throughout Nature. Operationally, those systems able to utilize optimal amounts of energy tend to survive and those that cannot are non-randomly eliminated.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, review paper for special issue on Recent Advances in Non-Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics and its Application. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1406.273

Factors for Identifying Non-Anthropic Conscious Systems

One of the problems of identifying consciousness is defining it in ways that allow for universal application and exploration.  Popular and anthropocentric definitions are problematic due to their inherent bias toward exclusively biological events in a field of study that does not require and is even hindered by this limitation.  A preliminary definition is needed that would encompass known biological consciousness as well as theoretical macro, micro, and intrinsic levels of consciousness.  This paper proposes that the following are a preliminary set of factors for openly exploring what can be considered conscious with no biological or cultural biases. 1.        Communication: Consciousness requires discrete parts of the system to be able to influence one another in a holistic manner.  Whether this is by synaptic firing or gravitic relationships is irrelevant. 2.        Adaptation: Consciousness requires adaptation to its environment.  Note the avoidance of the popular term "awareness," which is an untestable factor on many levels.  Static systems cannot be conscious.  Dynamic systems can be, but are not necessarily conscious. 3.        Complexity: In order to be differentiated from purely physical or chemical dynamic systems, conscious systems must display a sufficient complexity in energy rate density.  This paper proposes a ɸm (erg/second/gram) of a minimum of 103 for any given system to be considered complex enough to display consciousness.  This is equivalent to the simplest lifeforms considered conscious. The first two requirements are easily understood.  The requirement of complexity is the least conventional and requires explication.  Physical complexity is often used as a basic threshold for organization, but this seems to be due to convenience more than logical applicability, especially when informational systems are weighed on their quantitative value.  It does not follow that a greater number of components translates to a higher threshold of complexity, any more than saying a bucket of sand is more physically complex than an iPad because it has more particulates. As Eric Chaisson posits, energy rate density is a more universal and reliable means of organizing complexity.  Energy rate density (ERD) measures the energy flow in ergs per gram per second within a given system.  This qualitative assessment of energy efficiency is more insightful than listing non-adaptive arrangements such as physical interactions or even systems theory.  The dramatic spike in ERD for all known conscious systems makes this an ideal metric for exploring radically different systems about which little else is known

A superconducting quenchgun for delivering lunar derived oxygen to lunar orbit

The development of a parametric model for a superconducting quenchgun for launching lunar derived liquid oxygen to lunar orbit is detailed. An overview is presented of the quenchgun geometry and operating principles, a definition of the required support systems, and the methods used to size the quenchgun launcher and support systems. An analysis assessing the impact of a lunar quenchgun on the OEXP Lunar Evolution Case Study is included