Can one identify non-equilibrium in a three-state system by analyzing two-state trajectories?

Abstract

For a three-state Markov system in a stationary state, we discuss whether, on the basis of data obtained from effective two-state (or on-off) trajectories, it is possible to discriminate between an equilibrium state and a non-equilibrium steady state. By calculating the full phase diagram we identify a large region where such data will be consistent only with non-equilibrium conditions. This regime is considerably larger than the region with oscillatory relaxation, which has previously been identified as a sufficient criterion for non-equilibrium.