Zeroth principle of thermodynamics in aging quasistationary states

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the zeroth principle of thermodynamics holds for aging quasistationary states in long-range interacting Hamiltonian systems, linking fundamental thermodynamics to nonextensive statistical mechanics.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence that the zeroth principle applies to out-of-equilibrium quasistationary states relevant to nonextensive statistical mechanics.

Findings

Zeroth principle applies to aging quasistationary states

Temperature measurability in out-of-equilibrium states confirmed

Links thermodynamics principles with nonextensive formalism

Abstract

We show that the zeroth principle of thermodynamics applies to aging quasistationary states of long-range interacting $N$-body Hamiltonian systems. We also discuss the measurability of the temperature in these out-of-equilibrium states using a {\it short-range} interacting thermometer. As many connections are already established between such quasistationary states and nonextensive statistical mechanics, our results are the first evidence that such basic concepts apply to systems that the nonextensive formalism aims to describe.