Oscillations in feedback-driven systems: Thermodynamics and noise

Area of Science:

• Statistical physics
• Non-equilibrium thermodynamics
• Complex systems

Background:

• Oscillations are key in autonomous biochemical clocks and driven systems like time crystals.
• Previous research focused on autonomous and periodically driven systems, with less on feedback-driven ones.
• Understanding thermodynamic costs and noise effects in oscillations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically investigate oscillations in feedback-driven nonequilibrium systems.
• To analyze the role of noise and thermodynamic cost in these oscillations.
• To explore the relationship between precision and dissipation in feedback-driven oscillations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the framework of stochastic thermodynamics.
• Analyzed a simple two-state model to study precision-dissipation relations.
• Investigated a complex Ising model with feedback between magnetization and external field.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that oscillations can maintain coherence indefinitely in finite systems with thermal fluctuations, at the cost of diverging thermodynamic dissipation.
• Observed subharmonic oscillations in the feedback-driven Ising model, analogous to time crystals.
• Confirmed the second law for feedback-driven oscillating systems, showing positive total entropy change (including informational terms) despite potentially negative heat dissipation.

Conclusions:

• Feedback-driven systems represent a distinct class for studying nonequilibrium oscillations.
• High precision in feedback-driven oscillations can be achieved but requires significant thermodynamic cost.
• The study provides insights into entropy production and phase transitions in driven complex systems.