# By-passing fluctuation theorems

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that fluctuation theorems like the Jarzynski equality can be bypassed using catalysts, enabling positive work extraction from equilibrium states, with implications for thermodynamics.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to bypass fluctuation theorem constraints using catalysts, applicable to both small and macroscopic systems, expanding thermodynamic possibilities.

## Key findings

- Catalysts enable violation of the Jarzynski equality.
- Positive work can be extracted from equilibrium states.
- Highly correlated work distributions can be achieved with catalysts.

## Abstract

Fluctuation theorems impose constraints on possible work extraction probabilities in thermodynamical processes. These constraints are stronger than the usual second law, which is concerned only with average values. Here, we show that such constraints, expressed in the form of the Jarzysnki equality, can be bypassed if one allows for the use of catalysts - additional degrees of freedom that may become correlated with the system from which work is extracted, but whose reduced state remains unchanged so that they can be re-used. This violation can be achieved both for small systems but also for macroscopic many-body systems and leads to positive work extraction per particle with finite probability from macroscopic states in equilibrium. In addition to studying such violations for a single system, we also discuss the scenario in which many parties use the same catalyst to induce local transitions. We show that there exist catalytic processes that lead to highly correlated work distributions, expected to have implications for stochastic and quantum thermodynamics.