Macroscopic proof of the Jarzynski-Wojcik fluctuation theorem for heat exchange

Abstract

In a recent work, Jarzynski and Wojcik (2004 Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 230602) have shown by using the properties of Hamiltonian dynamics and a statistical mechanical consideration that, through contact, heat exchange between two systems initially prepared at different temperatures obeys a fluctuation theorem. Here, another proof is presented, in which only macroscopic thermodynamic quantities are employed. The detailed balance condition is found to play an essential role. As a result, the theorem is found to hold under very general conditions.

arXiv comment9 pages, 0 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Dynamical Ensembles in Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics
• Dynamical ensembles in stationary states
• Classical and Quantum Fluctuation Theorems for Heat Exchange
• Onsager-Machlup theory for nonequilibrium steady states and fluctuation theorems
• Fluctuation theorem for the renormalized entropy change in the strongly nonlinear nonequilibrium regime

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Berry-Phase induced Heat Pumping and its Impact on the Fluctuation Theorem
• Non-equilibrium spin-boson model: counting statistics and the heat exchange fluctuation theorem
• Quantum fluctuation theorem for heat exchange in the strong coupling regime
• Fluctuations of the heat exchanged between two quantum spin chains
• Fluctuation relation for heat exchange in Markovian open quantum systems