Thermodynamic beta

In statistical thermodynamics, thermodynamic beta, also known as coldness, is the reciprocal of the thermodynamic temperature of a system:

(where T is the temperature and k_B is Boltzmann constant).

It was originally introduced in 1971 (as Kältefunktion "coldness function") by Ingo Müller, one of the proponents of the rational thermodynamics school of thought, based on earlier proposals for a "reciprocal temperature" function.

Thermodynamic beta has units reciprocal to that of energy (in SI units, reciprocal joules, ${\displaystyle [\beta ]={\textrm {J}}^{-1}}$). In non-thermal units, it can also be measured in byte per joule, or more conveniently, gigabyte per nanojoule; 1 K⁻¹ is equivalent to about 13,062 gigabytes per nanojoule; at room temperature: T = 300K, β ≈ 44 GB/nJ ≈ 39 eV⁻¹ ≈ 2.4×10²⁰ J⁻¹. The conversion factor is 1 GB/nJ = ${\displaystyle 8\ln 2\times 10^{18}}$ J⁻¹.