Nonequilibrium fluctuation relations for non-Gaussian processes

Abstract

Non-Gaussian noise is omnipresent in systems where the central-limit theorem is inapplicable. We here investigate the stochastic thermodynamics of small systems that are described by a general Kramers-Moyal equation that includes both Gaussian and non-Gaussian white noise contributions. We obtain detailed and integral fluctuation relations for the nonequilibrium entropy production of these Markov processes in the regime of weak noise. As an application, we analyze the properties of driven objects that are locally coupled to a heat bath via a finite-range interaction, by considering an overdamped particle that is pulled by a moving harmonic potential. We find that reducing the bath interaction range increases non-Gaussian features, and strongly suppresses the average nonequilibrium entropy production. We further discuss a generalized detailed-balance condition.