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arXiv · 1701.05785

Contrasting work fluctuations and distributions in systems with short-range and long-range correlations

T. R. Kirkpatrick·J. K. Bhattacherjee·J. V. Sengers
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Abstract

It is shown that the work fluctuations and work distribution functions are fundamentally different in systems with short-range versus long-range correlations. The two cases considered with long- range correlations are magnetic work fluctuations in an equilibrium isotropic ferromagnet, and work fluctuations in a non-equilibrium fluid with a temperature gradient. The long-range correlations in the former case are due to equilibrium Goldstone modes, while in the latter they are due to generic non-equilibrium effects. The magnetic case is of particular interest since an external magnetic field can be used to tune the system from one with long-range correlations, to one with only short- range correlations. It is shown that in systems with long-range correlations the work distribution is extraordinarily broad compared to systems with only short-range correlations. Surprisingly these results imply that fluctuations theorems such as the Jarzynski fluctuation theorem are more useful in systems with long-range correlations than in systems with short-range correlations.

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T. R. Kirkpatrick, J. K. Bhattacherjee, J. V. Sengers. 2017-01-20. Contrasting work fluctuations and distributions in systems with short-range and long-range correlations. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.119.030603

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