First-order thermodynamics of multi-scalar-tensor gravity

Abstract

We formulate a first-order thermodynamic description of Jordan-frame tensor--multi-scalar gravity. We derive the exact covariant $1+3$ split of the geometric sector and recast it as an effective imperfect fluid. The interpretation is Eckart-like: effective temperature, conductivity, entropy current, and entropy production are meaningful only on branches where the geometric dissipative variables satisfy matching and integrability conditions. In a generic frame the heat flux is $q_a^{(g)}=-χ(a_a+W_a)$, with $χ=-\dot{\mathcal{F}}/(8π\mathcal{F})$ and $W_a$ the residual gradient sector. In the $\mathcal{F}$-comoving frame this defines the inertial variable $χ_{\mathcal{F}}\equiv K_{\mathcal{F}}T_{\mathcal{F}}$, while a nonzero spatial term $W_a^{(\mathcal{F})}$ remains, sourced by scalar directions not aligned with the coupling. Thus the multi-field thermal description is not generically reducible to a single $KT$-type quantity. We derive transport equations for $χ_{\mathcal{F}}$, for the field-space thermal vector $χ^A$ and covector $χ_A$, and for the residual gradient sector. We introduce the diagnostics $\mathfrak D_χ=χ_Aχ^A$ and $\mathfrak D_{\rm grad}=\mathcal B_{AB}\mathrm{D}_a^{(\mathcal{F})}ϕ^A\mathrm{D}^a_{(\mathcal{F})}ϕ^B$. Their meaning depends on the kinetic matrix $\mathcal B_{AB}$: they are canonical contractions when it is nondegenerate, nonnegative norm-like diagnostics only when positive definite, and require extra structure if degenerate. With this qualification, they show that freezing the effective coupling is generally weaker than full relaxation to the GR sector. We construct the entropy current and entropy production in the coupling frame, state the assumptions for nonnegative entropy production, and show that homogeneous cosmology suppresses the spatial sector while retaining nontrivial time-like multi-scalar thermal dynamics.