• DOI:10.1140/epjb/e2016-70242-0
• Corpus ID: 119212342

Fluctuation theorems and 1/f noise from a simple matrix

@article{Chamberlin2016FluctuationTA,
  title={Fluctuation theorems and 1/f noise from a simple matrix},
  author={Ralph V. Chamberlin and Sumiyoshi Abe and Bryce F. Davis and Priscilla E. Greenwood and A. H. Shevchuk},
  journal={The European Physical Journal B},
  year={2016},
  volume={89},
  pages={1-6}
}

• R. Chamberlin, S. Abe, +2 authors A. S. Shevchuk
• Published 24 February 2016
• Physics
• The European Physical Journal B

Abstract
Here we present a model for a small system combined with an explicit entropy bath that is
comparably small. The dynamics of the model is defined by a simple matrix, M. Each row of
M corresponds to a macrostate of the system, e.g. net alignment, while the elements in the
row represent microstates. The constant number of elements in each row ensures constant
entropy, which allows reversible fluctuations, similar to information theory where a
constant number of bits allows reversible computations. Many elements in M come from the
microstates of the system, but many others come from the bath. Bypassing the bath states
yields fluctuations that exhibit standard white noise; whereas with bath states the power
spectral density varies as S(f) ∝ 1 /f over
a wide range of frequencies, f. Thus, the explicit entropy bath is the mechanism
of 1/f noise
in this model. Both forms of the model match Crooks’ fluctuation theorem exactly,
indicating that the theorem applies not only to infinite reservoirs, but also to
finite-sized baths. The model is used to analyze measurements of 1/f-like noise from a
sub-micron tunnel junction.