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. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal) This article was invited by Erwin Frey.

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Stochastic thermodynamics, fluctuation theorems and molecular machines

In 1984, H. Risken authored a book (H. Risken, The Fokker-Planck Equation: Methods of Solution, Applications, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, New York) discussing the Fokker-Planck equation for one variable, several variables, methods of solution and its applications, especially dealing with laser statistics. There has been a considerable progress on the topic as well as the topic has received greater clarity. For these reasons, it seems worthwhile again to summarize previous as well as recent developments, spread in literature, on the topic. The Fokker-Planck equation describes the evolution of conditional probability density for given initial states for a Markov process, which satisfies the Ito stochastic differential equation. The structure of the Fokker-Planck equation for the vector case is

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The Fokker-Planck Equation

Matrix Differential Calculus with Applications in Statistics and Econometrics

Jets, ie collimated streams of matter, occur from the microscale up to the large-scale structure of the universe Our focus will be mostly on surface tension effects, which result from the cohesive properties of liquids Paradoxically, cohesive forces promote the breakup of jets, widely encountered in nature, technology and basic science, for example in nuclear fission, DNA sampling, medical diagnostics, sprays, agricultural irrigation and jet engine technology Liquid jets thus serve as a paradigm for free-surface motion, hydrodynamic instability and singularity formation leading to drop breakup In addition to their practical usefulness, jets are an ideal probe for liquid properties, such as surface tension, viscosity or non-Newtonian rheology They also arise from the last but one topology change of liquid masses bursting into sprays Jet dynamics are sensitive to the turbulent or thermal excitation of the fluid, as well as to the surrounding gas or fluid medium The aim of this review is to provide a unified description of the fundamental and the technological aspects of these subjects

Physics of liquid jets

In systems possessing spatial or dynamical symmetry breaking, Brownian motion combined with unbiased external input signals, deterministic and random alike, can assist directed motion of particles at submicron scales. In such cases, one speaks of ``Brownian motors.'' In this review the constructive role of Brownian motion is exemplified for various physical and technological setups, which are inspired by the cellular molecular machinery: the working principles and characteristics of stylized devices are discussed to show how fluctuations, either thermal or extrinsic, can be used to control diffusive particle transport. Recent experimental demonstrations of this concept are surveyed with particular attention to transport in artificial, i.e., nonbiological, nanopores, lithographic tracks, and optical traps, where single-particle currents were first measured. Much emphasis is given to two- and three-dimensional devices containing many interacting particles of one or more species; for this class of artificial motors, noise rectification results also from the interplay of particle Brownian motion and geometric constraints. Recently, selective control and optimization of the transport of interacting colloidal particles and magnetic vortices have been successfully achieved, thus leading to the new generation of microfluidic and superconducting devices presented here. The field has recently been enriched with impressive experimental achievements in building artificial Brownian motor devices that even operate within the quantum domain by harvesting quantum Brownian motion. Sundry akin topics include activities aimed at noise-assisted shuttling other degrees of freedom such as charge, spin, or even heat and the assembly of chemical synthetic molecular motors. This review ends with a perspective for future pathways and potential new applications.

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Artificial Brownian motors: Controlling transport on the nanoscale

Carleman Linearization approach for Output Voltage Prediction of a CMOS Inverter

In modern communication systems, one of the problems limiting the application of direct conversion receivers is the local oscillator port noise of sampling mixers. Ignoring the oscillator port noise contribution to the dynamical analysis of the sampling mixer will have influence on the trajectory estimation as well as its control. The intent of this note is to develop a general theory of sampling mixer under the coloured noise influence. The coloured noise process is exploited to model the oscillator port noise in lieu of the white noise process. Importantly, the coloured noise process confirms the real noise statistics. The coloured noise equation of the sampling mixer of this note is described by a scalar bilinear time-varying Stochastic Differential Equation (SDE). Subsequently, the extended phase space in combination with the notion of the Ito differential plays the role to develop the coupled dynamical equations of the estimated state trajectory of the sampling mixer. The numerical simulation in the MATLAB environment is demonstrated as well.

A note on a sampling mixer under the coloured noise influence

The universality of the celebrated Kalman filtering can be found in control theory. The Kalman filter has found its striking applications in sophisticated autonomous systems and smart products, which are attributed to its realization in a single complex chip. In this paper, we revisit the Kalman filter from the perspective of conditional characteristic function evolution and Ito calculus and develop three Kalman filtering Theorems and their formal proof. Most notably, this paper reveals the following: (i) Kalman filtering equations are a consequence of the evolution of conditional characteristic function for the linear stochastic differential system coupled with the linear discrete measurement system. (ii) The Kalman filtering is a consequence of the stochastic evolution of conditional characteristic function for the linear stochastic differential system coupled with the linear continuous measurement system. (iii) The structure of the Kalman filter remains invariant under two popular stochastic interpretations, the Ito vs Stratonovich.

Shambhu N. Sharma

Papers

Carleman Linearization approach for Output Voltage Prediction of a CMOS Inverter

A note on a sampling mixer under the coloured noise influence

The Universality of the Kalman Filter: A Conditional Characteristic Function Perspective

A passivity-based controller for an interleaved boost PFC converter

On the Stochastic Filtering Theory of a Power System Dynamics