English edit

Etymology edit

ergo- +‎ -tropy

Noun edit

ergotropy (uncountable)

  1. (physics) The maximum amount of work that can be obtained from a quantum system
    • 2016, Amit Mukherjee, Arup Roy, Some Sankar Bhattacharya, Manik Banik, “The presence of quantum correlations result in non-vanishing ergotropic gap”, in arXiv[1]:
      Eventually, presence of quantum correlations result in a non-vanishing thermodynamic quantity called ergotropic gap, measured by the difference between the global and local ergotropy.
  2. (biology) A state of active adaptation to the demands of stress or physical or mental work; arousal.
    • 1971, United States, An Assessment of Noise Concern in Other Nations, Environmental Protection Agency, page 8:
      Jansen's experiments on noise-induced nervous stress establish that the effect of noise is to create a higher activation of the organism, that is, a transition of the general state from trophotropy to ergotropy.
    • 2008, Bernadette von Dawans, Neuropeptidergic Modulation of Social Behavior in Health and Social Phobia:
      This shifts the attention towards the states of ergotropy and trophotropy.

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