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Stochastic thermodynamics, fluctuation theorems and molecular machines
Open accessAbstract
Stochastic thermodynamics as reviewed here systematically provides a framework for extending the notions of classical thermodynamics such as work, heat and entropy production to the level of individual trajectories of well-defined non-equilibrium ensembles. It applies whenever a non-equilibrium process is still coupled to one (or several) heat bath(s) of constant temperature. Paradigmatic systems are single colloidal particles in time-dependent laser traps, polymers in external flow, enzymes and molecular motors in single molecule assays, small biochemical networks and thermoelectric devices involving single electron transport. For such systems, a first-law like energy balance can be identified along fluctuating trajectories. For a basic Markovian dynamics implemented either on the continuum level with Langevin equations or on a discrete set of states as a master equation, thermodynamic consistency imposes a local-detailed balance constraint on noise and rates, respectively. Various integral and detailed fluctuation theorems, which are derived here in a unifying approach from one master theorem, constrain the probability distributions for work, heat and entropy production depending on the nature of the system and the choice of non-equilibrium conditions. For non-equilibrium steady states, particularly strong results hold like a generalized fluctuation-dissipation theorem involving entropy production. Ramifications and applications of these concepts include optimal driving between specified states in finite time, the role of measurement-based feedback processes and the relation between dissipation and irreversibility. Efficiency and, in particular, efficiency at maximum power can be discussed systematically beyond the linear response regime for two classes of molecular machines, isothermal ones such as molecular motors, and heat engines such as thermoelectric devices, using a common framework based on a cycle decomposition of entropy production.
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“Thermodynamically, both enzymes and molecular motors can be described by ensembles of a discrete set of states.532–533”
From Protein Ensembles: How Does Nature Harness Thermodynamic Fluctuations for Life? The Diverse Functional Roles of Conformational Ensembles in the Cell (2016) · cites this paper as [532]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Seifert, U.
- Affiliations
- University of Stuttgart (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Seifert, Udo
- ORCID
- Seifert, Udo
- Venue
- Reports on Progress in Physics
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Published
- 2012-11-20
- Volume
- 75
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 126001
- ISSN
- 0034-4885 (ISSN-L)
- 1361-6633
- OpenAlex
- W2102277728
- Cited by
- 3,300
- References
- 707
- Citations by year
- 2026: 258 · 2025: 302 · 2024: 267 · 2023: 260 · 2022: 274 · 2021: 310 · 2020: 290 · 2019: 261 · 2018: 225 · 2017: 192 · 2016: 210 · 2015: 192 · 2014: 145 · 2013: 85 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 5.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Reports on Progress in Physics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- European Social Fund
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Advanced Thermodynamic Systems and Engines
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
- Keywords
- stochastic thermodynamics, fluctuation theorems, molecular machines, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, entropy production, heat and work, detailed balance, master equation, Langevin equation, nonequilibrium steady states, fluctuation-dissipation theorem, measurement-based feedback, efficiency at maximum power, molecular motors, heat engines, thermoelectric devices, single-electron transport, single-molecule assay, biochemical reaction networks
- MeSH terms
- Feedback, Hot Temperature, Models, Theoretical, Stochastic Processes, Thermodynamics, Molecular Motor Proteins
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