Work relations for time-dependent states

Abstract

For time-dependent states generated by an external operation, a generalized free energy may be introduced by the relative entropy with respect to an equilibrium state realized after sufficient relaxation from the time-dependent states. Recently, by studying over-damped systems, Sivak and Crooks presented a formula that relates the generalized free energy with measurable thermodynamic works. We re-derive this relation with emphasizing a connection to an extended Clausius relation proposed in the framework of steady state thermodynamics. As a natural consequence, we generalize this relation to be valid for systems with momentum degrees of freedom, where the Shannon entropy in the generalized free energy is replaced by a symmetric one.