A Universal Thermodynamic Inequality: Scaling Relations Between Current, Activity, and Entropy Production

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Taye, Mesfin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Taye, Mesfin
author_facet Taye, Mesfin
contents We derive a universal thermodynamic bound constraining directional transport in both discrete and continuous nonequilibrium systems. For continuous-time Markov jump processes and overdamped diffusions governed by Fokker--Planck equations, we prove the inequality $ \frac{2 V(t)^2}{A(t)} \leq \dot{e}_p(t), $ linking the squared net velocity $V(t)$, entropy production rate $\dot{e}_p(t)$, and dynamical activity $A(t)$. This relation captures a fundamental trade-off between transport, dissipation, and fluctuation intensity, valid far from equilibrium and without detailed balance. In addition, we introduce dimensionless thermodynamic ratios that quantify dissipation asymmetry, entropy extraction, and relaxation. These scaling laws unify discrete and continuous stochastic thermodynamics and provide experimentally accessible constraints on transport efficiency in nanoscale machines and active systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_16711
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Universal Thermodynamic Inequality: Scaling Relations Between Current, Activity, and Entropy Production
Taye, Mesfin
Statistical Mechanics
We derive a universal thermodynamic bound constraining directional transport in both discrete and continuous nonequilibrium systems. For continuous-time Markov jump processes and overdamped diffusions governed by Fokker--Planck equations, we prove the inequality $ \frac{2 V(t)^2}{A(t)} \leq \dot{e}_p(t), $ linking the squared net velocity $V(t)$, entropy production rate $\dot{e}_p(t)$, and dynamical activity $A(t)$. This relation captures a fundamental trade-off between transport, dissipation, and fluctuation intensity, valid far from equilibrium and without detailed balance. In addition, we introduce dimensionless thermodynamic ratios that quantify dissipation asymmetry, entropy extraction, and relaxation. These scaling laws unify discrete and continuous stochastic thermodynamics and provide experimentally accessible constraints on transport efficiency in nanoscale machines and active systems.
title A Universal Thermodynamic Inequality: Scaling Relations Between Current, Activity, and Entropy Production
topic Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16711