Statistical mechanics is based on the interplay between energy and entropy. Here we formalize this interplay via axiomatic bargaining theory (a branch of cooperative game theory), where entropy and negative energy are represented by utilities of two different players. Game-theoretic axioms provide a solution to the thermalization problem, which is complementary to existing physical approaches. We predict thermalization of a nonequilibrium statistical system employing the axiom of affine covariance, related to the freedom of changing initial points and dimensions for entropy and energy, together with the contraction invariance of the entropy-energy diagram. Thermalization to negative temperatures is allowed for active initial states. Demanding a symmetry between players determines the final state to be the Nash solution (well known in game theory), whose derivation is improved as a by-product of our analysis. The approach helps to retrodict nonequilibrium predecessors of a given equilibrium state.

• Received 14 October 2019
• Accepted 10 September 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.043055

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society