Master equation based formulation of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

For a nonequilibrium system characterized by its state space, by a dynamics defined by a transfer matrix and by a reference equilibrium dynamics given by a detailed-balance transfer matrix, we define various nonequilibrium concepts: relative entropy, dissipation during the relaxation to the stationary state, path entropy, cost for maintaining the system in a nonequilibrium state, fluctuation-dissipation theory, and finally a tree integral formula for the stationary state. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.