Symbol W
W is a part of this expression. Its role is fixed by the surrounding article and by the operations shown in the formula.
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Why this formula appears here
In equilibrium statistical mechanics, the free-energy difference F between two control-parameter values is a state function. A rapid drive between them generally performs work W> F on average because dissipation is positive. It would seem that estimating F requires an impractically slow, quasistatic protocol. The Jarzynski equality demonstrates otherwise:
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Symbol Δ F
Δ F is a part of this expression. Its role is fixed by the surrounding article and by the operations shown in the formula.
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Published contexts (1)
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Equation 11 · Physics
The Statistical Mechanics of Irreversibility at Molecular Scale
This equation states a bound: one expression must stay on the indicated side of the other under the article’s assumptions.
In equilibrium statistical mechanics, the free-energy difference F between two control-parameter values is a state function. A rapid drive between them generally performs work W> F on average because dissipation is positive. It would seem that estimating F requires an impractically slow, quasistatic protocol. The Jarzynski equality demonstrates otherwise:
Equation guide → · Article →