A Gauge-Theoretic Formulation of Nambu Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics

Abstract

We present a gauge-theoretic formulation of Nambu non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NNET). In this framework, the thermodynamic potential $A_{i}=\partial_{i}S$ plays the role of a gauge field: the reversible thermodynamics corresponds to the pure-gauge condition $F=dA=0$, while the irreversible entropy production arises from the emergence of curvature $F\neq0$. The gauge-fixing term, $A_{0}=\frac{1}{2}L^{ij}A_{i}A_{j}$ leads to Onsager's variational principle, whereas the Chern--Simons--like term $A\wedge B\wedge dt,\ B=dH_{1}\wedge dH_{2},$ naturally yields the framework of NNET. This formulation provides a unified geometric foundation for both reversible and irreversible processes in thermodynamics.