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Impact of periodic thermal driving on heat fluctuations in a harmonic system

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  • Abreu, Felipe P.
  • Morgado, Welles A.M.

Abstract

The thermodynamics of mesoscopic systems driven by time-varying temperatures is crucial for understanding biological systems, designing nanoscale engines, and performing micro-particle cooling. In this work, we analyze an underdamped Brownian particle in a harmonic trap under a sinusoidal thermal protocol. Through analytical methods and numerical simulations, we analyze the system’s dynamics and heat statistics. We report the emergence of resonant position–velocity correlations and a non-Gaussian, asymmetric heat distribution consistent with the Fluctuation Theorem. We demonstrate that inertia is a key parameter, damping the system’s response and slowing its relaxation to a periodic non-equilibrium steady state. Our results show that oscillatory thermal driving is a powerful tool for controlling nanoscale energy flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Abreu, Felipe P. & Morgado, Welles A.M., 2026. "Impact of periodic thermal driving on heat fluctuations in a harmonic system," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 683(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:683:y:2026:i:c:s0378437125008568
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2025.131204
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