Noether's theorem in statistical mechanics

Noether's calculus of invariant variations yields exact identities from functional symmetries. The standard application to an action integral allows to identify conservation laws. Here we rather consider generating functionals, such as the free energy and the power functional, for equilibrium and driven many-body systems. Translational and rotational symmetry operations yield mechanical laws. These global identities express vanishing of total internal and total external forces and torques. We show that functional differentiation then leads to hierarchies of local sum rules that interrelate density correlators as well as static and time direct correlation functions, including memory. For anisotropic particles, orbital and spin motion become systematically coupled. The theory allows us to shed new light on the spatio-temporal coupling of correlations in complex systems. As applications we consider active Brownian particles, where the theory clarifies the role of interfacial forces in motility-induced phase separation. For active sedimentation, the center-of-mass motion is constrained by an internal Noether sum rule. Noether's Theorem relates symmetries to fundamental physical laws. Rather than applying the concept to an action integral in order to obtain conservation laws, here the authors consider Statistical Mechanical objects, such as the free energy and density and power functionals to derive exact force and torque sum rules.

Automated summary

The article discusses Noether's calculus of invariant variations and the identities derived from functional symmetries, focusing on generating functionals and mechanical laws in many-body systems. Through functional differentiation, hierarchies of local sum rules are obtained, revealing the interrelation of density correlators and internal and external forces.