Coarse-graining far-from-equilibrium dynamics using oblique projectors

Abstract: We generalize the Mori-Zwanzig projection operator formalism by introducing an oblique projector using biorthogonal variables to coarse-grain the dynamics of systems far from equilibrium, such as active or living matter. Improving on previously used orthogonal projectors, the oblique projector correctly decomposes the emergent interactions of the coarse-grained particles into systematic and stochastic contributions. We show that the formalism directly connects to established results in non-equilibrium linear response theory and adiabatic perturbation theory. Based on this formalism, we develop a coarse-graining algorithm which we apply to extract the emergent non-equilibrium chiral dynamics of a passive tracer in a chiral active bath. Our theory correctly predicts the odd transport properties and a confinement-induced shift of the chiral frequency of the tracer.