A possible classification of nonequilibrium steady states
Statistical Mechanics
2009-11-11 v1
Abstract
We propose a general classification of nonequilibrium steady states in terms of their stationary probability distribution and the associated probability currents. The stationary probabilities can be represented graph-theoretically as directed labelled trees; closing a single loop in such a graph leads to a representation of probability currents. This classification allows us to identify all choices of transition rates, based on a master equation, which generate the same nonequilibrium steady state. We explore the implications of this freedom, e.g., for entropy production.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0605301,
title = {A possible classification of nonequilibrium steady states},
author = {R. K. P. Zia and B. Schmittmann},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0605301},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
7 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General