Fluctuation theorem for Hamiltonian systems: Le Chatelier's principle - art. no. 051105

For thermostated dissipative systems, the fluctuation theorem gives an anal ytical expression for the ratio of probabilities that the time-averaged ent ropy production in a finite system observed for a finite time takes on a sp ecified value compared to the negative of that value. In the past, it has b een generally thought that the presence of some thermostating mechanism was an essential component of any system that satisfies a fluctuation theorem. In the present paper, we point out that a fluctuation theorem can be deriv ed for purely Hamiltonian systems, with or without applied dissipative fiel ds.