Nonequilibrium Processes in Non-Hamiltonian Statistical Ensembles

Abstract

A nonequilibrium statistical operator method is developed for ensembles of particles obeying non-Hamiltonian equations of motion in classical phase space. The main consequences of non-zero compressibility of phase space are examined in terms of time-dependent dynamic quantities. The generalized transport equations involve the phase-space compressibility in a non-trivial way. Our results are useful in molecular dynamics simulation studies as well as nonequilibrium or quasiclassical approximations of quantum-classical dynamics.