From fluctuations in hydrodynamics to nonequilibrium thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper reviews a decade of development in macroscopic fluctuation theory, connecting hydrodynamic fluctuations to nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and applying it to stochastic particle models for understanding stationary non-equilibrium states.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive macroscopic fluctuation framework for analyzing nonequilibrium thermodynamics based on stochastic lattice gas models.

Findings

Developed a macroscopic fluctuation theory for non-equilibrium systems

Applied the theory to stochastic lattice gases

Provided insights into stationary non-equilibrium states

Abstract

This paper reports on a macroscopic fluctuation theory developed over the last ten years in collaboration with L. Bertini, A. De Sole, D. Gabrielli and C. Landim. This theory has been inspired by and tested on stochastic models of interacting particles (stochastic lattice gases). It is the basis for a new approach to the study of stationary non equilibrium states applicable to a large class of systems. This overview emphasizes general ideas and for the details I refer to the published papers.