Heat distribution function for motion in a general potential at low temperature

Abstract

We consider the 1D motion of an over-damped Brownian particle in a general potential in the low temperature limit. We derive an explicit expression for the probability distribution for the heat transferred to the particle. We find that the local minima in the potential yield divergent side bands in the heat distribution in addition to the divergent central peak. The positions of the bands are determined by the potential gaps. We, moreover, determine the tails of the heat distribution. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.