Extremum properties of the Gaussian thermostat

Abstract

We use nonequilibrium molecular dynamics computer simulation to explore a number of properties of the Gaussian thermostat. We show for a nonequilibrium system at a fixed state point, that within an infinite family of thermostats the Gaussian thermostat appears to: (i) minimise the largest Lyapunov exponent; (ii) maximise the smallest Lyapunov exponent; (iii) minimise the magnitude of the phase space compression; (iv) maximise the sum of the positive Lyapunov exponents and (v) maximise both the Kaplan-Yorke and the Mori dimensions of the system. We have recently proved, that among this family of thermostats, the Gaussian thermostat alone satisfies the conjugate pairing rule. Show more