An expression for stationary distribution in nonequilibrium steady state

Abstract

We study the nonequilibrium steady state realized in a general stochastic system attached to multiple heat baths and/or driven by an external force. Starting from the detailed fluctuation theorem we derive concise and suggestive expressions for the corresponding stationary distribution which are correct up to the second order in thermodynamic forces. The probability of a microstate $η$ is proportional to $\exp[Φ(η)]$ where $Φ(η)=-\sum_kβ_k\mathcal{E}_k(η)$ is the excess entropy change. Here $\mathcal{E}_k(η)$ is the difference between two kinds of conditioned path ensemble averages of excess heat transfer from the $k$-th heat bath whose inverse temperature is $β_k$. Our expression may be verified experimentally in nonequilibrium states realized, for example, in mesoscopic systems.