The well-reasoned choice: An information-theoretic approach to branching ratios in molecular rate processes

R. D. Levine*, R. Kosloff

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

A collection of molecules has often a choice between competing (i.e., alternative) modes of evolution. It is customary to handle such problems through rate equations, thereby concluding that the branching ratio is determined by the relative rates of the competing processes. The grouping axiom of information theory is used to provide an alternative point of view, namely that the choice is based on the need to maximize the entropy, subject to known constraints. The thermodynamic interpretation and suggested applications are also considered.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)300-304
Number of pages5
JournalChemical Physics Letters
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Sep 1974

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