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.

8 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

References in corpus (6)

• Nonequilibrium Steady States of Matrix Product Form: A Solver's Guide
• Dissipation: The phase-space perspective
• Fluctuation theorems for stochastic dynamics
• Integral fluctuation theorem for the housekeeping heat
• Cumulants and large deviations of the current through non-equilibrium steady states
• Novel surface universality classes with strong anisotropy

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Irreversible entropy production, from quantum to classical
• 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
• 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