Macroscopic fluctuation theory
Abstract
Stationary nonequilibrium states describe steady flows through macroscopic systems. Although they represent the simplest generalization of equilibrium states, they exhibit a variety of new phenomena. Within a statistical mechanics approach, these states have been the subject of several theoretical investigations, both analytic and numerical. The macroscopic fluctuation theory, based on a formula for the probability of joint space-time fluctuations of thermodynamic variables and currents, provides a unified macroscopic treatment of such states for driven diffusive systems. A detailed review of this theory including its main predictions and most relevant applications is given.
- Publication:
-
Reviews of Modern Physics
- Pub Date:
- April 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1103/RevModPhys.87.593
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1404.6466
- Bibcode:
- 2015RvMP...87..593B
- Keywords:
-
- 05.70.Ln;
- 05.40.-a;
- 05.60.-k;
- 05.20.-y;
- Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics;
- Fluctuation phenomena random processes noise and Brownian motion;
- Transport processes;
- Classical statistical mechanics;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics
- E-Print:
- Review article. Revised extended version