English

Non-equilibrium work fluctuations for oscillators in non-Markovian baths

Statistical Mechanics 2009-11-11 v1

Abstract

We study work fluctuation theorems for oscillators in non-Markovian heat baths. By calculating the work distribution function for a harmonic oscillator with motion described by the generalized Langevin equation, the Jarzynski equality (JE), transient fluctuation theorem (TFT), and Crooks' theorem (CT) are shown to be exact. In addition to this derivation, numerical simulations of anharmonic oscillators indicate that the validity of these nonequilibrium theorems do not depend on the memory of the bath. We find that the JE and the CT are valid under many oscillator potentials and driving forces whereas the TFT fails when the driving force is asymmetric in time and the potential is asymmetric in position.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0612021,
  title  = {Non-equilibrium work fluctuations for oscillators in non-Markovian baths},
  author = {Trieu Mai and Abhishek Dhar},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0612021},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

7 pages, 3 figures