Edependent

Edependent is a term that appears in interdisciplinary literature to describe a class of systems in which dynamics are governed by energy exchange with surroundings. It is not a universally standardized term, but is used to characterize models where transition rates, equilibria, or thresholds explicitly depend on the energy content or energy flux of the system.

An Edependent process requires knowledge of energy variables such as internal energy, temperature, or external work, to predict future states. In contrast to purely state-dependent or time-dependent models, Edependent models incorporate an energy channel that influences dynamics.

Examples include energy-dependent transport in biological membranes, where ion channel conductance depends on ATP or proton motive force; non-equilibrium chemical reactions where reaction rates vary with energy input; and open thermodynamic systems where energy flux alters phase behavior.

Applications include modeling and simulation, enabling better predictions in systems like metabolic networks, electrochemical cells, and energy-harvesting materials.

Related concepts include energy-dependent processes, open systems, and nonlinear dynamics. Edependent is sometimes used synonymously with energy-aware or energy-coupled models, though preferences vary by field.