Nonequilibrium and irreversibility (Q2452715)

This book focuses on the study of stationary states in chaotic systems of particles or fluids, and it begins with a careful introduction on equilibrium and the second law expressed in terms of the Boltzmann entropy. Then, in the second chapter, which refers to stationary non-equilibrium, the concept of thermostat is defined which will be of help to seize the following. In Chapter 3, coarse graining and discrete phase space are dealt with in a mutual way via discrete phase space and coarse cell. In Chapter 4, fluctuations are analyzed by various techniques, and more especially using Sinai-Ruelle-Bowen potentials, large deviations, time reversal, Onsager reprocity, Green-Kubo formula. Next, various applications are considered such as fluids, turbulence, intermittency, stochastic dynamics. The last Chapter 6, historical comments, is probably the most interesting part of the book, as far as it displays the evolution of various ideas in physics, and restate that ``nihil Nuevo sub sole''.