Experimental studies of the transient fluctuation theorem using liquid crystals

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates the Transient Fluctuation Theorem in a spatially extended liquid crystal system, extending prior tests from small systems to larger, more complex systems.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental validation of the TFT in a spatially extended system, broadening the scope of fluctuation theorem applications.

Findings

First experimental test of TFT in liquid crystals

Demonstrates applicability of TFT to extended systems

Supports theoretical predictions of fluctuation theorems

Abstract

In a thermodynamical process, the dissipation or production of entropy can only be positive or zero according to the second law of thermodynamics. However the laws of thermodynamics are applicable to large systems in the thermodynamic limit. Recently a fluctuation theorem known as the Transient Fluctuation Theorem (TFT) which generalizes the second law of thermodynamics even for small systems has been proposed. This theorem has been tested in small systems such as a colloidal particle in an optical trap. We report for the first time an analogous experimental study of TFT in a spatially extended system using liquid crystals.