Heat fluctuations for underdamped Langevin dynamics

Abstract

Fluctuation theorems play a central role in nonequilibrium physics and stochastic thermodynamics. Here we derive an integral fluctuation theorem for the dissipated heat in systems governed by an underdamped Langevin dynamics. We show that this identity may be used to predict the occurrence of extreme events leading to exponential tails in the probability distribution functions of the heat and related quantities.

6 pages, 2 Figures. Slightly extended version. A new general argument is given in the conclusion. Supplementary Information is now available online. Results unchanged (to appear in Euro. Phys. Lett.)