Nonequilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics at the Nanoscale

Over the last few years, tremendous advances have
been achieved in the observation, control, and
understanding of many natural and artificial
nanoscopic systems. Examples range from molecular
motors, which perform many vital functions in our
cells, to single-electron transistors. These
structures display fascinating properties such as
coherent space-time behaviors or nonlinear transport.
The development of new statistical tools capable of
coping with their equilibrium and nonequilibrium
properties is therefore of fundamental and practical
interest. In this direction, this study explores the
fluctuation, transport, and dissipation properties of
nanoscopic systems. This book contains theoretical
and experimental results that provide new insights
into the thermodynamics of small systems and shed
light on the origin of irreversibility and its
constructive role in nonequilibrium processes.
Applications are given in the fields of chemistry,
genetics, and electronic transport. As a result,
this book should be useful and of interest to
scientists from a wide range of disciplines, from
materials science to biology.

Autorentext

D.A. received his Ph.D. in physics from the UniversitéLibre de Bruxelles in 2008. His postdoctoral training wasaccomplished at Yale University.

Klappentext

Over the last few years, tremendous advances havebeen achieved in the observation, control, andunderstanding of many natural and artificialnanoscopic systems. Examples range from molecularmotors, which perform many vital functions in ourcells, to single-electron transistors. Thesestructures display fascinating properties such ascoherent space-time behaviors or nonlinear transport.The development of new statistical tools capable ofcoping with their equilibrium and nonequilibriumproperties is therefore of fundamental and practicalinterest. In this direction, this study explores thefluctuation, transport, and dissipation properties ofnanoscopic systems. This book contains theoreticaland experimental results that provide new insightsinto the thermodynamics of small systems and shedlight on the origin of irreversibility and itsconstructive role in nonequilibrium processes.Applications are given in the fields of chemistry,genetics, and electronic transport. As a result,this book should be useful and of interest toscientists from a wide range of disciplines, frommaterials science to biology.