Computing the optimal protocol for finite-time processes in stochastic thermodynamics

Holger Then, Andreas Engel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)
539 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Asking for the optimal protocol of an external control parameter that minimizes the mean work required to drive a nanoscale system from one equilibrium state to another in finite time, Schmiedl and Seifert [ T. Schmiedl and U. Seifert Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 108301 (2007)] found the Euler-Lagrange equation to be a nonlocal integrodifferential equation of correlation functions. For two linear examples, we show how this integrodifferential equation can be solved analytically. For nonlinear physical systems we show how the optimal protocol can be found numerically and demonstrate that there may exist several distinct optimal protocols simultaneously, and we present optimal protocols that have one, two, and three jumps, respectively.
Translated title of the contributionComputing the optimal protocol for finite-time processes in stochastic thermodynamics
Original languageEnglish
Article number041105
Number of pages8
JournalPhysical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume77
Issue number4
Early online date4 Apr 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Fluctuation phenomena random processes noise and Brownian motion
  • Colloids
  • Dynamics of biomolecules
  • Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics

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