Improving noisy free-energy measurements by adding more noise

Fuente: arXiv
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Autor principal: Whitelam, Stephen
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Whitelam, Stephen
author_facet Whitelam, Stephen
contents Estimating free-energy differences using nonequilibrium work relations, such as the Jarzynski equality, is hindered by poor convergence when work fluctuations are large. For systems governed by overdamped Langevin dynamics, we propose the counterintuitive approach of adding noise in order to increase the precision of such calculations. By introducing additional stochastic fluctuations to the system and rescaling its potential energy, we leave the thermodynamics of the system unchanged while increasing its relaxation rate. For a given time-dependent protocol this modification reduces dissipated work, leading to more accurate free-energy estimates. We demonstrate this principle using computer simulations applied to two model systems. However, the regime of applicability of this strategy is likely limited, because it requires control of the system's potential energy in a way that is feasible in only a few experimental settings.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_03734
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Improving noisy free-energy measurements by adding more noise
Whitelam, Stephen
Statistical Mechanics
Estimating free-energy differences using nonequilibrium work relations, such as the Jarzynski equality, is hindered by poor convergence when work fluctuations are large. For systems governed by overdamped Langevin dynamics, we propose the counterintuitive approach of adding noise in order to increase the precision of such calculations. By introducing additional stochastic fluctuations to the system and rescaling its potential energy, we leave the thermodynamics of the system unchanged while increasing its relaxation rate. For a given time-dependent protocol this modification reduces dissipated work, leading to more accurate free-energy estimates. We demonstrate this principle using computer simulations applied to two model systems. However, the regime of applicability of this strategy is likely limited, because it requires control of the system's potential energy in a way that is feasible in only a few experimental settings.
title Improving noisy free-energy measurements by adding more noise
topic Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.03734