Fluctuation, Dissipation and the Arrow of Time

Abstract

The recent development of the theory of fluctuation relations has led to new insights into the ever-lasting question of how irreversible behavior emerges from time-reversal symmetric microscopic dynamics. We provide an introduction to fluctuation relations, examine their relation to dissipation and discuss their impact on the arrow of time question.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures. Minor Revisions. Accepted for publication in Entropy, Special Issue "Arrow of Time", edited by C. Callende