Large deviations in non-equilibrium processes Hasselt University
The theory of equilibrium statistical mechanics is one of the most powerful theories in physics. Its biggest asset is perhaps its simplicity, as one can describe the full thermodynamic picture of a system with only a few thermodynamic potentials, such as energy. The weakness of this theory is that it only works for systems that are always in equilibrium, or driven infinitely slowly. An assumption which is never strictly valid in reality. A full ...