Single-molecule thermodynamics: the heat distribution function of a charged particle in a static magnetic field

Chatterjee, Debarati and Cherayil, Binny J (2011) Single-molecule thermodynamics: the heat distribution function of a charged particle in a static magnetic field. In: Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment .

PDF Single.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (246kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Interest in the applicability of fluctuation theorems to the thermodynamics of single molecules in external potentials has recently led to calculations of the work and total entropy distributions of Brownian oscillators in static and time-dependent electromagnetic fields. These calculations, which are based on solutions to a Smoluchowski equation, are not easily extended to a consideration of the other thermodynamic quantity of interest in such systems-the heat exchanges of the particle alone-because of the nonlinear dependence of the heat on a particle's stochastic trajectory. In this paper, we show that a path integral approach provides an exact expression for the distribution of the heat fluctuations of a charged Brownian oscillator in a static magnetic field. This approach is an extension of a similar path integral approach applied earlier by our group to the calculation of the heat distribution function of a trapped Brownian particle, which was found, in the limit of long times, to be consistent with experimental data on the thermal interactions of single micron-sized colloids in a viscous solvent.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment
Publisher:	IOP Publishing ltd
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to IOP Publishing ltd.
Keywords:	fluctuations (theory);stochastic processes (theory)
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Inorganic & Physical Chemistry
Date Deposited:	27 Apr 2011 05:22
Last Modified:	27 Apr 2011 05:22
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/37150

Actions (login required)

View Item