Skewness of steady-state current fluctuations in nonequilibrium systems

Roman Belousov, E. G. D. Cohen, Chun-Shang Wong, John A. Goree, and Yan Feng
Phys. Rev. E 93, 042125 – Published 21 April 2016
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Abstract

A skewness of the probability for instantaneous current fluctuations, in a nonequilibrium steady state, is observed experimentally in a dusty plasma. This skewness is attributed to the spatial asymmetry, which is imminent to the nonequilibrium systems due to the external hydrodynamic gradient. Using the modern framework of the large deviation theory, we extend the Onsager-Machlup ansatz for equilibrium fluctuations to systems with a preferred spatial direction, and provide a modulated Gaussian probability distribution, which is tested by simulations. This probability distribution is also of potential interest for other statistical disciplines. Connections with the principles of statistical mechanics, due to Boltzmann and Gibbs, are discussed as well.

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  • Received 11 November 2015
  • Revised 2 March 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.042125

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Roman Belousov1,*, E. G. D. Cohen1,2,†, Chun-Shang Wong2,‡, John A. Goree2, and Yan Feng3,§

  • 1The Rockefeller University, New York 10065, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
  • 3Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China

  • *belousov.roman@gmail.com
  • egdc@mail.rockefeller.edu
  • chun-shang-wong@uiowa.edu
  • §fengyan@suda.edu.cn

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Issue

Vol. 93, Iss. 4 — April 2016

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