Reversibility, heat dissipation and the importance of the thermal environment in stochastic models of nonequilibrium steady states

Abstract

We examine stochastic processes that are used to model nonequilibrium processes (e.g, pulling RNA or dragging colloids) and so deliberately violate detailed balance. We argue that by combining an information-theoretic measure of irreversibility with nonequilibrium work theorems, the thermal physics implied by abstract dynamics can be determined. This measure is bounded above by thermodynamic entropy production and so may quantify how well a stochastic dynamics models reality. We also use our findings to critique various modeling approaches and notions arising in steady-state thermodynamics.

arXiv comment8 pages, 2 figures, easy-to-read, single-column, large-print RevTeX4 format; version with modified abstract and additional discussion, references to appear in Phys Rev Lett

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Cited by in corpus (18)

• Stochastic thermodynamics, fluctuation theorems, and molecular machines
• Statistical Physics of Self-Replication
• Irreversible entropy production, from quantum to classical
• Entropy production and the arrow of time
• Thermodynamic uncertainty relation for time-dependent driving
• Lower bounds on dissipation upon coarse graining
• Stochastic approach to equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamics
• The "footprints'' of irreversibility
• Estimating time-dependent entropy production from non-equilibrium trajectories
• Quantitative analysis of non-equilibrium systems from short-time experimental data
• Properties of a non-equilibrium heat bath
• Absence of dissipation in trajectory ensembles biased by currents
• Non-equilibrium fluctuation theorems in the presence of local heating
• Nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems in the presence of a time-reversal symmetry-breaking field and nonconservative forces
• Boltzmann stochastic thermodynamics
• Free energy for non-equilibrium quasi-stationary states
• Prior-predictive value from fast growth simulations
• Noise induced new quasi-period and periods switching