The Helmholtz theorem of classical mechanics reads as follows: Let
is a "U-shaped" potential energy profile which depends on a parameter
The thesis of this theorem of classical mechanics reads exactly as the heat theorem of thermodynamics.
This fact shows that thermodynamic-like relations exist between certain mechanical quantities.
This in turn allows to define the "thermodynamic state" of a one-dimensional mechanical system.
is given by time average of the kinetic energy, and the entropy
The importance of this theorem has been recognized by Ludwig Boltzmann who saw how to apply it to macroscopic systems (i.e. multidimensional systems), in order to provide a mechanical foundation of equilibrium thermodynamics.
This research activity was strictly related to his formulation of the ergodic hypothesis.
A multidimensional version of the Helmholtz theorem, based on the ergodic theorem of George David Birkhoff is known as the generalized Helmholtz theorem.
The generalized Helmholtz theorem is the multi-dimensional generalization of the Helmholtz theorem, and reads as follows.
Let be the canonical coordinates of a s-dimensional Hamiltonian system, and let be the Hamiltonian function, where is the kinetic energy and is the potential energy which depends on a parameter
Let the hyper-surfaces of constant energy in the 2s-dimensional phase space of the system be metrically indecomposable and let
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