Fluctuation and dissipation of work in a Joule experiment

TL;DR

This paper derives an exact work distribution for a Joule experiment using fluctuation theorems and validates it with molecular dynamics simulations, enhancing understanding of work fluctuations in thermodynamic processes.

Contribution

It introduces a microcanonical Crooks relation and provides an exact analytical expression for work distribution in a Joule experiment, connecting theory with simulations.

Findings

Derived a microscopically exact work distribution for a Joule experiment.

Connected fluctuation theorems via a microcanonical Crooks relation.

Validated analytical results with molecular dynamics simulations.

Abstract

We elucidate the connection between various fluctuation theorems by a microcanonical version of the Crooks relation. We derive the microscopically exact expression for the work distribution in an idealized Joule experiment, namely for an object, convex but otherwise of arbitrary shape, moving at constant speed through an ideal gas. Analytic results are compared with molecular dynamics simulations of a hard disk gas.