Classical and thermodynamic work fluctuations

Abstract

We have studied the nature of classical work (W c ) and thermodynamic work (W) fluctuations in systems driven out of equilibrium both in transient and time periodic steady state. As the observation time of a large number of trajectories increases, the fraction of trajectories which exhibit excursions away from the typical behaviour, namely, W c < 0, W < Δ F and dissipated heat Q < 0 decreases as anticipated for macroscopic time scales. An analytical expression for such trajectories is obtained. Trajectory for which W c < 0 may not correspond to W < Δ F or Q < 0. The applicability of steady state fluctuation theorems is discussed in our linear as well as nonlinear models.