Jarzynski Equality and Irreversibility

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Jarzynski's equality is only valid in reversible processes and argues that non-equilibrium inequalities related to free energy and work cannot be derived from it.

Contribution

It provides a proof showing the limitations of Jarzynski's equality to reversible processes, challenging its applicability in non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Findings

Jarzynski's equality is valid only in the reversible limit.

Non-equilibrium inequalities for free energy and work cannot be derived from Jarzynski's equality.

The proof uses phenomenological non-equilibrium thermodynamics methods.

Abstract

Using methods of phenomenological non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the proof is performed that Jarzynski's equality is only valid in the reversible limit and that a conclusion to non-equilibrium inequalities concerning free energy and work is not possible and therefore not allowed.