Zusammenfassung für den Vortrag am 21.04.2015 (16:00 Uhr)

Colloquium of the Faculty of Physics and Geosciences

Christian Maes (Instituut voor Theoretische Fysica, KU Leuven)
Nonequilibrium aspects of statistical forces

We review the notion of statistical forces in macroscopic physics. We know them from

irreversible thermodynamics as gradients of thermodynamic potentials, but what is their

nature and meaning away from equilibrium. We give a statistical mechanical framework

leading to non-gradient and non-additive effects for statistical forces, revealing aspects

of the thermodynamics and kinetics of driven media. There is a close connection with

recent developments in nonequilibrium response theory, giving importance to the notion

of dynamical activity.