Lower bounds on entropy production from dynamical correlation functions

Abstract

Entropy production is a key property in stochastic thermodynamics. For partially observed and coarse-grained systems, its inference is challenging and typically rests on proven lower bounds. We derive two versions of such bounds based on the asymmetry of experimentally accessible two-time correlation functions of coarse-grained state observables. For non-equilibrium steady states, the bound is valid for arbitrary correlation lag. For time-dependent processes, it requires the limit of vanishing lag. These bounds hold true for any system that follows either a Markovian dynamics or a coupled set of overdamped Langevin equations on some underlying, unobservable level of description. We illustrate the bounds for both types of dynamics and discuss their optimization and potential tightness.