COUPLING BETWEENNLEVELS OF OBSERVATION OF A SYSTEM (BIOLOGICAL OR PHYSICAL) RESULTING IN CREATION OF STRUCTURES

Abstract

Almost all biological systems contain several levels of observation (macroscopic to microscopic). By an adequate cutting of the total space, the dynamical and thermodynamical variables can be decomposed into several terms relative to each level. Firstly, we have regarded these levels as independent of each other but in reality they are coupled. So, in the second stage, we have considered these couplings as perturbations constituting a real driving force for the evolution of the system. Exchanges of entropy and energy between different levels are established in the framework of irreversible thermodynamical processes. Consideration of coupling effects allows the creation of structure in one level at the expense of the others. So, an N level system can be considered rather as a living ensemble compared to a one level system. Finally, we propose a general comparison between thermodynamical behaviours of N level systems and one level systems.