Stochastic Geometric Mechanics in Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics: Schrödinger meets Onsager

Abstract

We are describing relations between Schrödinger's variational problem and Onsager's approach to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Although the second work on reciprocal relations and detailed balance has been published in the same year (1931) as the first one, the impact of Schrödinger's idea has not yet been considered in the classical context of Onsager.