title: Communications: Can one identify nonequilibrium 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 nonequilibrium steady state. By calculating the full phase diagram we identify a large region where such data will be consistent only with nonequilibrium conditions. This regime is considerably larger than the region with oscillatory relaxation, which has previously been identified as a sufficient criterion for nonequilibrium.
authors.affiliation: II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart 70550, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmiedl
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D008954:Models, Biological; D044367:Phase Transition; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins