Fluctuation theorem for irreversible entropy production in electrical conduction

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that negative entropy production rates predicted by thermodynamics in AC-driven metals are consistent with fluctuation theorems, highlighting differences between stochastic and phenomenological entropy definitions.

Contribution

It shows the compatibility of negative entropy production with fluctuation theorems in metals under AC-driving, and compares stochastic and phenomenological entropy concepts.

Findings

Negative entropy production rates occur in AC-driven metals.

Fluctuation theorem holds for these entropy production rates.

Stochastic and phenomenological entropy definitions differ in this context.

Abstract

Linear, irreversible thermodynamics predicts that the entropy production rate can become negative. We demonstrate this prediction for metals under AC-driving whose conductivity is well-described by the Drude-Sommerfeld model. We then show that these negative rates are fully compatible with stochastic thermodynamics, namely, that the entropy production does fulfill a fluctuation theorem. The analysis is concluded with the observation that the stochastic entropy production as defined by the surprisal or ignorance of the Shannon information does not agree with the phenomenological approach.