1. Experimental test of Hatano and Sasa's nonequilibrium steady-state equality.
- Author
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Trepagnier, E. H., Jarzynski, C., Ritort, F., Crooks, G. E., Bustamante, C. J., and Liphardt, J.
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PHYSICAL & theoretical chemistry ,DYNAMICS ,MECHANICS (Physics) ,QUANTUM theory ,EQUILIBRIUM ,FORAMINIFERA - Abstract
Most natural processes occur far from equilibrium and cannot be treated within the framework of classical thermodynamics. In 1998, Oono and Paniconi [Oono, Y. & Paniconi,M. (1998) Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl. 130, 29-44] proposed a general phenomenological framework, steady-state thermodynamics, encompassing non- equilibrium steady states and transitions between such states. In 2001, Hatano and Sasa [Hatano, T. & Sasa, 51(2001) Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3463-3466] derived a testable prediction of this theory. Specifically, they were able to show that the exponential average of Y, a quantity similar to a dissipated work, should be equal to zero for arbitrary transitions between nonequilibrium steady states, -ln(e
-v ) = 0. We have tested this strong prediction by measuring the dissipation and fluctuations of microspheres optically driven through water. We have found that -ln(e-v ) 0 for three different nonequilibrium systems, supporting Hatano and Sasa's proposed extension of thermodynamics to arbitrary steady states and irreversible transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2004
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