Thermodynamic bounds on equilibrium fluctuations of a global or local order parameter. (4th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guioth, J.; Lacoste, D.
• Is Part Of: Europhysics letters. Volume 115:Number 6(2016:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2016-11-04
• Subjects: 05.70.Ln -- 05.40.-a -- 05.70.-a; Physics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/115/60007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0295-5075

Abstract

Abstract: We analyze thermodynamic bounds on equilibrium fluctuations of an order parameter, which are analogous to relations, which have been derived recently in the context of non-equilibrium fluctuations of currents. We discuss the case of global fluctuations when the order parameter is measured in the full system of interest, and local fluctuations, when the order parameter is evaluated only in a sub-part of the system. Using isometric fluctuation theorems, we derive thermodynamic bounds on the fluctuations of the order parameter in both cases. These bounds could be used to infer the value of the symmetry breaking field or the relative size of the observed sub-system to the full system from local fluctuations.