Bounding dissipation in stochastic models

Abstract

We generalize to stochastic dynamics the exact expression for average dissipation along an arbitrary non-equilibrium process, given in Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 080602 (2007). We then derive lower bounds by various coarse-graining procedures and illustrate how, when and where the information on the dissipation is captured in models of over- and underdamped Brownian particles.