Heat conduction induced by non-Gaussian athermal fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how non-Gaussian athermal fluctuations affect heat conduction, revealing modifications to Fourier's law and the fluctuation theorem, and demonstrating the breakdown of the zeroth law in such systems.

Contribution

It introduces new terms to the classical laws of heat conduction accounting for non-Gaussian noise effects in athermal environments.

Findings

Heat conduction is influenced by non-Gaussian noise characteristics.

Modified Fourier law includes additional terms due to non-Gaussianity.

The zeroth law of thermodynamics does not hold in athermal systems with non-Gaussian fluctuations.

Abstract

We study the properties of heat conduction induced by non-Gaussian noises from athermal environments. We find that new terms should be added to the conventional Fourier law and the fluctuation theorem for the heat current, where its average and fluctuation are determined not only by the noise intensities but also by the non-Gaussian nature of the noises. Our results explicitly show the absence of the zeroth law of thermodynamics in athermal systems.