Nonequilibrium fluctuation relations for non-Gaussian processes

TL;DR

This paper develops fluctuation relations for non-Gaussian stochastic processes described by a Kramers-Moyal equation, revealing how non-Gaussian noise influences entropy production and detailed balance in nonequilibrium thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces detailed and integral fluctuation relations for non-Gaussian Markov processes and analyzes how finite-range interactions affect entropy production and non-Gaussian features.

Findings

Reducing bath interaction range increases non-Gaussianity.

Non-Gaussian features suppress average entropy production.

Generalized detailed-balance condition is discussed.

Abstract

Non-Gaussian noise is omnipresent in systems where the central-limit theorem is inapplicable. We here investigate the stochastic thermodynamics of small systems that are described by a general Kramers-Moyal equation that includes both Gaussian and non-Gaussian white noise contributions. We obtain detailed and integral fluctuation relations for the nonequilibrium entropy production of these Markov processes in the regime of weak noise. As an application, we analyze the properties of driven objects that are locally coupled to a heat bath via a finite-range interaction, by considering an overdamped particle that is pulled by a moving harmonic potential. We find that reducing the bath interaction range increases non-Gaussian features, and strongly suppresses the average nonequilibrium entropy production. We further discuss a generalized detailed-balance condition.