TY - JOUR
T1 - Nonequilibrium free-energy relations for thermal changes
AU - Williams, Stephen R.
AU - Searles, Debra J.
AU - Evans, Denis J.
PY - 2008/6/26
Y1 - 2008/6/26
N2 - The Jarzynski equality and the Crooks fluctuation theorem enable the calculation of the change in a system's free energy from nonequilibrium path integrals. These relations consider processes where the system is driven out of equilibrium by a mechanical external agent while remaining in contact with a thermal reservoir at a fixed temperature. We generalize these relations to describe processes driven by any type of external agent, be it thermal or mechanical. Attention is given to the case of a system, initially in equilibrium, that is driven through a temperature change by a heat reservoir. The results are cast in a form applicable to experiments.
AB - The Jarzynski equality and the Crooks fluctuation theorem enable the calculation of the change in a system's free energy from nonequilibrium path integrals. These relations consider processes where the system is driven out of equilibrium by a mechanical external agent while remaining in contact with a thermal reservoir at a fixed temperature. We generalize these relations to describe processes driven by any type of external agent, be it thermal or mechanical. Attention is given to the case of a system, initially in equilibrium, that is driven through a temperature change by a heat reservoir. The results are cast in a form applicable to experiments.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=46349086990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.250601
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.250601
M3 - Article
SN - 0031-9007
VL - 100
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
IS - 25
M1 - 250601
ER -