Energy repartition in the nonequilibrium steady state

Journal article (2017)

Authors

Peng Yan University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
G.E. Bauer Tohoku University, QN/Bauer Group - AS
Huaiwu Zhang University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Research Group
QN/Bauer Group (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 Peng Yan, G.E. Bauer, Huaiwu Zhang
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.024417
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Published Date

17-01-2017

Language

English

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

QN/Quantum Nanoscience

Research Group

QN/Bauer Group

Abstract

The concept of temperature in nonequilibrium thermodynamics is an outstanding theoretical issue. We propose an energy repartition principle that leads to a spectral (mode-dependent) temperature in steady-state nonequilibrium systems. The general concepts are illustrated by analytic solutions of the classical Heisenberg spin chain connected to Langevin heat reservoirs with arbitrary temperature profiles. Gradients of external magnetic fields are shown to localize spin waves in a Wannier-Zeemann fashion, while magnon interactions renormalize the spectral temperature. Our generic results are applicable to other thermodynamic systems such as Newtonian liquids, elastic solids, and Josephson junctions.