Work

Path integral analysis of Jarzynski’s equality: Analytical results

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: We apply path integrals to study nonequilibrium work theorems in the context of Brownian dynamics, deriving in particular the equations of motion governing the most typical and most dominant trajectories. For the analytically soluble cases of a moving harmonic potential and a harmonic oscillator with a time-dependent natural frequency, we find such trajectories, evaluate the work-weighted propagators, and validate Jarzynski's equality.

Source: Physical Review E

DOI: 10.1103/physreve.79.021122

Authors: David D. L. Minh, Artur B. Adib

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Award: Quantitative characterization of chemical reaction mechanisms