title: Work-probability distribution in systems driven out of equilibrium.
abstract: We derive the differential equation describing the time evolution of the work probability distribution function of a stochastic system which is driven out of equilibrium by the manipulation of a parameter. We consider both systems described by their microscopic state or by a collective variable which identifies a quasiequilibrium state. We show that the work probability distribution can be represented by a path integral, which is dominated by "classical" paths in the large system size limit. We compare these results with simulated manipulation of mean-field systems. We discuss the range of applicability of the Jarzynski equality for evaluating the system free energy using these out-of-equilibrium manipulations. Large fluctuations in the work and the shape of the work distribution tails are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche and Unità INFM, Università Federico II, Associati INFN, Sezione di Napoli, Complesso Monte S. Angelo, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. imparato@na.infn.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imparato
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peliti