Measurability of nonequilibrium thermodynamics in terms of the Hamiltonian of mean force.

The nonequilibrium thermodynamics of an open (classical or quantum) system in strong contact with a single heat bath can be conveniently described in terms of the Hamiltonian of mean force. However, the conventional formulation is limited by the necessity to measure differences in equilibrium properties of the system-bath composite. We make use of the freedom involved in defining thermodynamic quantities, which leaves the thermodynamics unchanged, to show that the Hamiltonian of mean force can be inferred from measurements on the system alone, up to that irrelevant freedom. In doing so, we refute a key criticism expressed in the works by P. Talkner and P. Hänggi [Phys. Rev. E 94, 022143 (2016)10.1103/PhysRevE.94.022143 and arXiv:1911.11660]. We also discuss the remaining part of the criticism.