Science, technology, government and societal goals, and the role of thermo-statistics of non-equilibrium systems in present day advanced technologies

Abstract

In this contribution we present some general considerations on the question of the aspect and interrelationships of the quadruple “realms" of Science, Technology, Government and Society, and the role of Thermo-Statistics of non-equilibrium systems that are present in the nowadays highly sophisticated technologies and industrial processes that contribute to the wealth and well being of world society. In present days remarkable development of all the modern technology, essential for the welfare and progress of the global society, imposes an immense stress on basic Physics, and consequently on Thermo-Statistics. We do face situations like, for example: fluids with complex structures, in electronics and photonics involving systems out of equilibrium, nano-technologies, lowdimensional systems, non-linear and ultrafast processes in semiconductors devices, and soft matter. All these topics are important for technological improvement in industries like, for example: in medical engineering, petroleum, food, polymers, cosmetics, electronics and optoelectronics. The construction of a Non-Equilibrium Statistical Ensemble Formalism (NESEF for short) is briefly described, and we emphasize that the NESEF can deal, within a certain degree of triumph, with some of the situations above described.