On decompositions of non-reversible processes

Abstract: Markov chains are studied in a formulation involving forces and fluxes. First, the iso-dissipation force recently introduced in the physics literature is investigated; we show that its non-uniqueness is linked to different notions of duality giving rise to dual forces. We then study Hamiltonians associated to variational formulations of Markov processes, and develop different decompositions for them.