Fluctuation theorem for irreversible entropy production in electrical conduction

Abstract

Linear, irreversible thermodynamics predicts that the entropy production rate can become negative. We demonstrate this prediction for metals under AC-driving whose conductivity is well-described by the Drude-Sommerfeld model. We then show that these negative rates are fully compatible with stochastic thermodynamics, namely, that the entropy production does fulfill a fluctuation theorem. The analysis is concluded with the observation that the stochastic entropy production as defined by the surprisal or ignorance of the Shannon information does not agree with the phenomenological approach.