Rigorous results of nonequilibrium statistical physics and their experimental verification

Rigorous relations of nonequilibrium statistical physics are discussed. An arbitrary system brought into a strongly nonequilibrium state by an external time-dependent impact is considered. Based on the Hamiltonian formalism of classical mechanics, the Bochkov–Kuzovlev equality, the Jarzynski equality, and Crooks reversal relations valid for fluctuations in the work done on a system are derived. Verification of these equalities in mechanical experiments with a torsion pendulum and biological objects (folded ribonucleic acids) is described.