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Nonlinear inhomogeneous Fokker-Planck equations: Entropy and free-energy time evolution
Gabriele Sicuro1, Peter Rapčan1, Constantino Tsallis2
1Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud, 150, 22290-180, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract:
We extend a recently introduced free-energy formalism for homogeneous Fokker-Planck equations to a wide, and physically appealing, class of inhomogeneous nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations. In our approach, the free-energy functional is expressed in terms of an entropic functional and an auxiliary potential, both derived from the coefficients of the equation. With reference to the introduced entropic functional, we discuss the entropy production in a relaxation process towards equilibrium. The properties of the stationary solutions of the considered Fokker-Planck equations are also discussed.
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