Energy fluctuations in a biharmonically driven nonlinear system

TL;DR

This paper investigates work and heat fluctuations in a driven nonlinear system, demonstrating enhanced stochastic resonance with phase modulation and confirming the steady state fluctuation theorem.

Contribution

It reveals how biharmonic driving and phase control enhance stochastic resonance and confirms the fluctuation theorem in such systems.

Findings

Pumping via phase modulation enhances stochastic resonance.

Steady state fluctuation theorem holds in the system.

External static bias degrades resonance.

Abstract

We study the fluctuations of work done and dissipated heat of a Brownian particle in a symmetric double well system. The system is driven by two periodic input signals that rock the potential simultaneously. Confinement in one preferred well can be achieved by modulating the relative phase between the drives. We show that in the presence of pumping the stochastic resonance signal is enhanced when analyzed in terms of the average work done on the system per cycle. This is in contrast to the case when pumping is achieved by applying an external static bias, which degrades resonance. We analyze the nature of work and heat fluctuations and show that the steady state fluctuation theorem holds in this system.