PhD Defence: Dana Taylor Kamp

Title: Entropy production in non-equilibrium systems  - Expanding around the steady state

Abstract: Estimating work, heat, and entropy in non-equilibrium systems is one of the major challenges in modern physics. Non-equilibrium states are commonly approximated using a perturbative approach near equilibrium, and in recent years this approach has been extended to non-equilibrium steady states. In this defense, a new second-order expansion of the entropy production in a slowly driven, discrete-state system is presented and applied to two models: optimizing dissipation in a simple three-state system and approximating the dissipation during the phase transition in the Schlögl model, a biologically relevant model for switching between two steady states.

Details: Tuesday, 16th of December, 10.00h, Auditorium A

Supervisor: Karel Proesmans