1210.1133 (Paolo Muratore-Ginanneschi)

On the use of stochastic differential geometry for non-equilibrium
thermodynamics modeling and control    [PDF]

Paolo Muratore-Ginanneschi

We discuss the relevance of geometric concepts in the theory of stochastic differential equations for applications to the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics of small systems. In particular, we show how the Eells-Elworthy-Malliavin covariant construction of the Wiener process on a Riemann manifold provides a physically transparent formulation of optimal control problems of finite-time thermodynamic transitions. Based on this formulation, we turn to an evaluative discussion of recent results on optimal thermodynamic control and their interpretation.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.1133