Superstatistics and temperature fluctuations

TL;DR

Superstatistics models complex systems' statistical properties using a superposition of equilibrium distributions, but this work shows measurement methods can influence the distribution, challenging its assumption as an intrinsic system property.

Contribution

This paper demonstrates that the distribution P(beta) in superstatistics can be affected by measurement procedures, not just system dynamics, highlighting a new factor in superstatistics applicability.

Findings

P(beta) can be measurement-dependent in some cases

Measurement methods influence superstatistics distributions

Superstatistics applicability conditions are more nuanced than previously thought

Abstract

Superstatistics [C. Beck and E.G.D. Cohen, Physica A 322, 267 (2003)] is a formalism aimed at describing statistical properties of a generic extensive quantity E in complex out-of-equilibrium systems in terms of a superposition of equilibrium canonical distributions weighted by a function P(beta) of the intensive thermodynamic quantity beta conjugate to E. It is commonly assumed that P(beta) is determined by the spatiotemporal dynamics of the system under consideration. In this work we show by examples that, in some cases fulfilling all the conditions for the superstatistics formalism to be applicable, P(beta) is actually affected also by the way the measurement of E is performed, and thus is not an intrinsic property of the system.