What is negative entropy?

Negative entropy, often referred to in the context of information theory or thermodynamics, represents a state of order or information that is contrary to the tendency of systems to move towards disorder (positive entropy). In physics, entropy is a measure of the amount of disorder or randomness in a system; as a system evolves, its entropy tends to increase, according to the second law of thermodynamics. In the context of information theory, entropy quantifies the uncertainty or information content. Negative entropy can be viewed as the reduction of uncertainty or the introduction of order within a system. For example: 1. **In Thermodynamics**: A system with negative entropy would be one that has been organized or structured, reducing disorder. This might happen, for instance, when energy is input into a system to create order from chaos. 2. **In Information Theory**: Negative entropy could be interpreted as the amount of information gained when uncertainty is reduced. This means that when information is provided about a system, leading to increased predictability or understanding, it can be thought of as a form of negative entropy. In summary, negative entropy represents the concept of increased order, organization, or information in a system, which stands in contrast to the natural tendency towards disorder and randomness.