Work statistics in stochastically driven systems

Abstract

We identify the conditions under which a stochastic driving inducing energy changes on a system coupled to a thermal bath can be treated as a work source. When these conditions are met, the work statistics satisfies the Crooks fluctuation theorem traditionally derived for deterministic drivings. We illustrate this fact by calculating and comparing the work statistics for a two-level system driven respectively by a stochastic and a deterministic piecewise constant protocol.