Linear thermodynamic systems with memory. III. Theory of thermodynamic non-equilibrium potentials

In the last paper of this series on non-equilibrium thermodynamics of linear systems with memory, methods of the theory of linear passive dynamic systems are used to construct a complete family of thermodynamic non-equilibrium potentials for the thermodynamic systems considered. It is shown by a specific example that the property of non-uniqueness of the thermodynamic potential is inherent even in very simple thermodynamic systems, and its possible physical interpretation is discussed.