Wang, GenmiaoSevick, Edith MMittag, EmilSearles, Debra JEvans, Denis2009-09-162010-12-202009-09-162010-12-20Physical Review Letters 89.5 (2002): 050601/1-40031-90071079-7114http://hdl.handle.net/10440/854http://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/handle/10440/854We experimentally demonstrate the fluctuation theorem, which predicts appreciable and measurable violations of the second law of thermodynamics for small systems over short time scales, by following the trajectory of a colloidal particle captured in an optical trap that is translated relative to surrounding water molecules. From each particle trajectory, we calculate the entropy production/consumption over the duration of the trajectory and determine the fraction of second law–defying trajectories. Our results show entropy consumption can occur over colloidal length and time scales.4 pageshttp://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/index.php "Author can archive pre-print (ie pre-refereeing) … post-print (ie final draft post-refereeing) … [and] publisher's version/PDF. Link to publisher version … [and] Copyright notice required. Publisher's version/PDF can be used on … employers web site." - from SHERPA/RoMEO site (as at 25/02/10). ©2002 The American Physical SocietyKeywords: Colloids; Computer simulation; Entropy; Equations of motion; Laser beams; Molecular dynamics; Molecules; Numerical analysis; Optical microscopy; Particles (particulate matter); Thermodynamics; Water; Entropy-producing trajectories; Fluctuation theorem; Mi2002-07-1510.1103/PhysRevLett.89.0506012015-12-12