Stochastic thermodynamics in many-particle systems

Alberto Imparato

Published 2015-09-20Version 1

We study the thermodynamic properties of a microscopic model of coupled oscillators that exhibits a dynamical phase transition from a desynchronized to a synchronized phase. We consider two different configurations for the thermodynamic forces applied on the oscillators, one resembling the macroscopic power grids, and one resembling autonomous molecular motors. We characterize the input and the output power as well as the efficiency at maximum power, providing analytic expressions for such quantities near the critical coupling strength. We discuss the role of the quenched disorder in the thermodynamic force distributions and show that such a disorder may lead to an enhancement of the the efficiency at maximum power.