Experimental demonstration of violations of the Second Law of Thermodynamics for small systems and short time scales
Author(s)
Wang, G.
Sevick, E.
Mittag, Emil
Bernhardt, Debra
J. Evans, Denis
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2002
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
We experimentally demonstrate the fluctuation theorem, which predicts appreciable and measurable violations of the second law of thermodynamics for small systems over short time scales, by following the trajectory of a colloidal particle captured in an optical trap that is translated relative to surrounding water molecules. From each particle trajectory, we calculate the entropy production/consumption over the duration of the trajectory and determine the fraction of second law-defying trajectories. Our results show entropy consumption can occur over colloidal length and time scales.We experimentally demonstrate the fluctuation theorem, which predicts appreciable and measurable violations of the second law of thermodynamics for small systems over short time scales, by following the trajectory of a colloidal particle captured in an optical trap that is translated relative to surrounding water molecules. From each particle trajectory, we calculate the entropy production/consumption over the duration of the trajectory and determine the fraction of second law-defying trajectories. Our results show entropy consumption can occur over colloidal length and time scales.
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Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
89
Issue
5
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© 2002 American Physical Society. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. This journal is available online - use hypertext links.
Subject
Mathematical sciences
Physical sciences
Engineering