Heat Fluctuations in Brownian Transducers

TL;DR

This paper investigates heat fluctuation distributions in Brownian transducers, revealing the need to modify existing Fluctuation Theorems when considering realistic coupling mechanisms and external work, thereby clarifying their applicable domain.

Contribution

It extends and modifies the Fluctuation Theorem for Heat Exchange to account for realistic coupling and external work in Brownian systems.

Findings

The Fluctuation Theorem requires modification with realistic coupling.

Analytical and numerical validation of the modified theorem.

Extended the theorem to systems with external work.

Abstract

Heat fluctuation probability distribution function in Brownian transducers operating between two heat reservoirs is studied. We find, both analytically and numerically, that the recently proposed Fluctuation Theorem for Heat Exchange [C. Jarzynski and D. K. Wojcik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 230602 (2004)] has to be modified when the coupling mechanism between both baths is considered. We also extend such relation when external work is present. Our work fixes the domain of applicability of the theorem in more realistic operating systems.