Dependence of the fluctuation-Dissipation temperature on the choice of observable

Abstract

On general grounds, a nonequilibrium temperature can be consistently defined from generalized fluctuation-dissipation relations only if it is independent of the observable considered. We argue that the dependence on the choice of observable generically occurs when the phase-space probability distribution is nonuniform on constant energy shells. We relate quantitatively this observable dependence to a fundamental characteristics of nonequilibrium systems, namely, the Shannon entropy difference with respect to the equilibrium state with the same energy. This relation is illustrated on a mean-field model in contact with two heat baths at different temperatures. © 2009 The American Physical Society.