Experimental Validation of Fluctuation Theorems under Thermal and Mechanical Driving Using Levitated Nanoparticles

Charmine Mentoza*
Periodicity:0'2024

Abstract

We present an experimental investigation of fluctuation theorems in thermally and mechanically driven systems using optically levitated nanoparticles. Leveraging programmable feedback cooling in a hollow core photonic crystal fiber trap, we realize precise control over both the mechanical potential and the effective thermal environment of a single trapped particle. This setup enables fast driving protocols far from equilibrium, where classical linear response theories fail. We experimentally test and validate the Williams-Searles-Evans (WSE) equality and the generalized Jarzynski equality under thermal and simultaneous thermal-mechanical driving conditions, respectively. Our results confirm the applicability of these fluctuation theorems up to two orders of magnitude beyond the quasi-static regime. We further benchmark the extracted free energy differences against equilibrium and linear response predictions, demonstrating clear deviations under rapid protocols and highlighting the necessity of the full statistical treatment. This work establishes levitated nanoparticles as a versatile platform for probing stochastic thermodynamics in extreme regimes.

Keywords

Fluctuation Theorems, Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics, Optical Trapping, Levitated Systems, Experimental Statistical Mechanics

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