Steps minimize dissipation in rapidly driven stochastic systems.

Blaber, Steven; Louwerse, Miranda D; Sivak, David A · Phys Rev E · 2021

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Micro- and nanoscale systems driven by rapid changes in control parameters (control protocols) dissipate significant energy. In the fast-protocol limit, we find that protocols that minimize dissipation at fixed duration are universally given by a two-step process, jumping to and from a point that balances jump size with fast relaxation. Jump protocols could be exploited by molecular machines or thermodynamic computing to improve energetic efficiency, and implemented in nonequilibrium free-energy estimation to improve accuracy.