Fluctuations Relations for Nonequilibrium Systems
Date
2004
Authors
Searles, Debra
Evans, Denis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
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.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: Dynamics; Heat transfer; Nanotechnology; Statistical methods; Theorem proving; Thermodynamics; Density gradients; Nonequilibrium systems; Statistical fluctuations; Thermodynamic irreversibility; Fluids
Citation
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Source
Australian Journal of Chemistry
Type
Journal article