Discrete-time thermodynamic uncertainty relation

TL;DR

This paper extends the thermodynamic uncertainty relation to discrete-time Markov chains and periodically driven systems, offering a broader understanding of flux fluctuations in nonequilibrium steady states.

Contribution

It generalizes the thermodynamic uncertainty relation to discrete-time systems and periodically driven systems, expanding its applicability beyond continuous-time steady states.

Findings

Provides an entropic upper bound for average fluxes in discrete systems.

Extends the relation to systems with periodic driving.

Broadens the theoretical framework for nonequilibrium thermodynamics.

Abstract

We generalize the thermodynamic uncertainty relation, providing an entropic upper bound for average fluxes in time-continuous steady-state systems (Gingrich et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 120601 (2016)), to time-discrete Markov chains and to systems under time-symmetric, periodic driving.