Generalized Langevin equation 2026-10-25
A Langevin equation with a friction memory kernel, rather than only instantaneous friction. The equation couples the velocity to its earlier history through a causal convolution. Equilibrium noise and friction are related by a generalized fluctuation-dissipation relation. The name extends the Langevin equation associated with Paul Langevin.
Paul Langevin Created 2026-10-24 Updated 2026-11-05
Paul Langevin described Brownian motion through a force balance containing drag and rapidly fluctuating molecular forces. In modern notation, the Langevin equation combines damping with a random force. At thermal equilibrium, the relation between fluctuations and drag gives the long-time diffusion coefficient , where is the Boltzmann constant, is temperature, and is the linear drag coefficient. His 1908 note recovers the displacement law developed by Albert Einstein through this mechanical route, connecting irregular microscopic forces with a predictable statistical diffusion law.[ref]
Sur la théorie du mouvement brownien by Paul Langevin. 1908 original note, force-based derivation and Einstein displacement formula; modern drag notation
Portrait of Paul Langevin
. Photographer not identified; Wellcome Library/Collection, London, image V0028220; existing Langevin portrait crop. CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source.By Paul Langevin. Comptes rendus 146, 530–533.
Original French note read: session 9 March 1908, Einstein displacement formula and force-based route; distinguish later stochastic-calculus notation.
