English

Extending the definition of entropy to nonequilibrium steady states

Statistical Mechanics 2007-05-23 v1

Abstract

We study the nonequilibrium statistical mechanics of a finite classical system subjected to nongradient forces ξ\xi and maintained at fixed kinetic energy (Hoover-Evans isokinetic thermostat). We assume that the microscopic dynamics is sufficiently chaotic (Gallavotti-Cohen chaotic hypothesis) and that there is a natural nonequilibrium steady state ρξ\rho_\xi. When ξ\xi is replaced by ξ+δξ\xi+\delta\xi one can compute the change δρ\delta\rho of ρξ\rho_\xi (linear response) and define an entropy change δS\delta S based on energy considerations. When ξ\xi is varied around a loop, the total change of SS need not vanish: outside of equilibrium the entropy has curvature. But at equilibrium (i.e. if ξ\xi is a gradient) we show that the curvature is zero, and that the entropy S(ξ+δξ)S(\xi+\delta\xi) near equilibrium is well defined to second order in δξ\delta\xi.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0303156,
  title  = {Extending the definition of entropy to nonequilibrium steady states},
  author = {David Ruelle},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0303156},
  year   = {2007}
}

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