On the equivalence and optimality of transformations of diffusive systems

Abstract: In this paper we introduce, inspired by Clausius and developing the ideas of \cite{pre}, the concept of equivalence of transformations in non equilibrium theory of diffusive systems within the framework of macroscopic fluctuation theory. Besides providing a new proof of a formula derived in \cite{mft,qc}, which is the basis of the equivalence, we show that equivalent quasistatic transformations can be distinguished in finite terms, by the renormalized work introduced in \cite{45,46,mft,qc}. This allows us to tackle the problem of determining the optimal quasistatic transformation among the equivalent ones.