Detailed Fluctuation Theorems: A Unifying Perspective

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified approach to identify multiple fluctuating quantities obeying detailed fluctuation theorems in time-inhomogeneous Markov processes, linking stochastic thermodynamics with physical observables.

Contribution

It provides a general method to unify various fluctuation theorems and express fluctuating quantities in terms of measurable physical observables.

Findings

Unified framework for fluctuation theorems

Applicable to arbitrary number of fluctuating quantities

Expresses fluctuations in terms of physical observables

Abstract

We present a general method to identify an arbitrary number of fluctuating quantities which satisfy a detailed fluctuation theorem for all times within the framework of time-inhomogeneous Markovian jump processes. In doing so we provide a unified perspective on many fluctuation theorems derived in the literature. By complementing the stochastic dynamics with a thermodynamic structure (i.e. using stochastic thermodynamics), we also express these fluctuating quantities in terms of physical observables.