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arXiv · 2508.16528

Tightening the thermodynamic uncertainty relations with null-entropy events: What we learn when nothing happens

Abhaya S. Hegde·André M. Timpanaro·Gabriel T. Landi
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Abstract

Fluctuation theorems establish that thermodynamic processes at the microscale can occasionally result in negative entropy production. At the microscale, another distinct possibility becomes more likely: processes in which no entropy is produced overall. In this work, we explore the constraints imposed by such null-entropy events on the fluctuations of thermodynamic currents. By incorporating the probability of null-entropy events, we obtain tighter bounds on finite-time thermodynamic uncertainty relations derived from fluctuation theorems. We validate this framework using an example of a qudit SWAP engine.

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Abhaya S. Hegde, André M. Timpanaro, Gabriel T. Landi. 2025-08-22. Tightening the thermodynamic uncertainty relations with null-entropy events: What we learn when nothing happens. https://doi.org/10.1103/nbp6-kmyv

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