2014/04/21 by T. G. Philbin, Janet Anders, Philbin, T. G. +2 · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #FOS: Physical sciences #Gas Dynamics and Kinetic Theory #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech) #cond-mat.stat-mech
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1404.5181
15 pages
arxiv created 2014/04/21 · openalex publication_date 2014/04/21 · arxiv updated 2014/04/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
One particle in a classical perfect gas is driven out of equilibrium by changing its mass over a short time interval. The work done on the driven particle depends on its collisions with the other particles in the gas. This model thus provides an example of a non-equilibrium process in a system (the driven particle) coupled to an environment (the rest of the gas). We calculate the work done on the driven particle and compare the results to Jarzynski's equality relating a non-equilibrium work process to an equilibrium free-energy difference. The results for this model are generalised to the case of a system that is driven in one degree of freedom while interacting with the environment through other degrees of freedom.