Dissipation and lag in irreversible processes

Abstract

When a system is perturbed by the variation of external parameters, a lag generally develops between the actual state of the system, ρt, and the equilibrium state corresponding to the current parameter values, ρteq. We establish a microscopic, quantitative relation between this lag and the dissipated work that accompanies the process. We illustrate this relation using a model system. © 2009 EPLA.