Fluctuations Relations for Nonequilibrium Systems

Debra J. Searles; Denis J. Evans

doi:10.1071/CH04115

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Fluctuations Relations for Nonequilibrium Systems

Debra J. Searles ^A ^C and Denis J. Evans ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Science, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD 4111, Australia.

^B Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia.

^C Corresponding author. Email: d.bernhardt@griffith.edu.au

Australian Journal of Chemistry 57(12) 1119-1123 https://doi.org/10.1071/CH04115
Submitted: 7 May 2004 Accepted: 27 July 2004 Published: 8 December 2004

Abstract

Fluctuation relations have been developed over the past decade, which describe the statistical fluctuations in time-averaged properties of many-particle, nonequilibrium systems such as fluids. The fluctuation theorems show how thermodynamic irreversibility emerges from the time-reversible dynamics of the constituent molecules, and are thus of fundamental importance. The relationships also make quantitative predictions on fluctuations in small systems that are monitored over short periods, and these have been verified numerically and experimentally. Fluctuation theorems are thus anticipated to play an important role in the design of nanotechnological devices and understanding of biological processes. These relationships and their importance are summarized.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Australian Research Council. We also thank Lamberto Rondoni for his useful comments.

References

Fluctuations Relations for Nonequilibrium Systems

Abstract

Acknowledgments

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