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One of the key features of nonequilibrium steady states (NESS) is the presence of nontrivial probability currents. We propose a general classification of NESS in which these currents play a central distinguishing role. As a corollary, we specify the transformations of the dynamic transition rates which leave a given NESS invariant. The formalism is most transparent within a continuous time master equation framework since it allows for a general graph-theoretical representation of the NESS. We discuss the consequences of these transformations for entropy production and present some simple examples. |
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