The Crooks relation and its connection to the detailed balance principle of equilibrium correlation functions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in quantum systems, work distributions are connected to equilibrium correlation functions, and the Crooks relation can be derived solely from the detailed balance principle, offering an alternative proof.

Contribution

It provides a novel derivation of the Crooks relation based only on the detailed balance principle in quantum systems.

Findings

Work distribution relates to equilibrium correlation functions in quantum systems

Crooks relation can be derived from detailed balance principle

Alternative proof of Crooks relation presented

Abstract

We show that in the quantum case any work distribution can be related to an equilibrium correlation function in an extended Hilbert space. As a consequence of this identification the Crooks relation is a restatement of the detailed balance principle for equilibrium correlation functions. The presented derivation serves as an alternative proof of the Crooks relation residing only on the detailed balance principle.