Fluctuations in out of equilibrium systems: from theory to experiment
Résumé
We introduce from an experimental point of view the main concepts of fluctuation theorems for work, heat and entropy production in out of equilibrium systems. We will discuss the important difference between the applications of these concepts to dynamical and to stochastic systems. We will mainly analyze the stochastic systems using the measurements performed in two experiments : a) a harmonic oscillator driven out of equilibrium by an external force b) a colloidal particle trapped in a time dependent double well potential. We will rapidly describe some consequences of fluctuation theorems and some useful applications to the analysis of experimental data. As an example the case of a molecular motor will be analyzed in some detail. Finally we will discuss the problems related to the the applications of fluctuation theorem to dynamical systems.
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