Foundations and Generalizations of Stochastic Thermodynamics

Statistical mechanics provides the microscopic foundations for equilibrium thermodynamics.

For non-equilibrium thermodynamics, a universal description comparable in generality to equilibrium statistical mechanics is not available, and poses a main challenge in modern statistical physics.

Stochastic thermodynamics is considered a huge step forward towards a more universal understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena.

It modelssmall systems, which permanently exchange energy with a macroscopic environment via thermal fluctuations, but which are hindered from equilibrating with this environment by external stimuli (forces, chemical gradients etc).

This is characteristic for, e.g., biological systems on the cellular and molecular level and for artificial micro-devices.The success of stochastic thermodynamics is based on recognizing that the dynamical evolution of the system induces thermodynamical processes in the macroscopic environment.

However, in current state-of-the-art this connection is expressed through phenomenologicalrelations which lack a theoretical fundament from first principles.The purpose of this project is to develop the theoretical framework for stochastic thermodynamics directly from the fundamental laws of classical mechanics and statistical mechanics.

This fundament extends to situations where system and bath exchange thermodynamic quantities other than energy (e.g., volume, particles); such settings cannot be studied with the current phenomenological approach.