Experimental Demonstrations of New Theorems of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

The CIs will explore experimentally two new theorems of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the Fluctuation Theorem and the Work Relation. Each is a proposed fundamental law of nature: the Fluctuation Theorem quantifies measureable violations of the Second Law in small systems, such as nanomachines, and the Work Relation quantifies the free energy change of a system from the work performed along far-from-equilibrium paths. By measuring pico-Newton scale forces, generated by a focussed laser beam, that operate over nanometer length scales, the CIs will experimentally demonstrate these theorems and show how they apply to modern systems such as nanomachines and biomolecules.