Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-29-2010

Publication Title

Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

We report on numerical simulations of the dynamics of a test particle coupled to competing Boltzmann heat baths of finite size. After discussing some features of the single bath case, we show that the presence of two heat baths further constrains the conditions necessary for the test particle to thermalize with the heat baths. We find that thermalization is a spectral property in which the oscillators of the bath with frequencies in the range of the test particle characteristic frequency determine its degree of thermalization. We also find an unexpected frequency shift of the test particle response with respect to the spectra of the two heat baths. Finally, we discuss implications of our results for the study of high-frequency nanomechanical resonators through cold damping cooling techniques, and for engineering reservoirs capable of mitigating the back-action on a mechanical system.

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevE.79.031128

Original Citation

Wei Q, Smith ST, Onofrio R. Equilibrium states of a test particle coupled to finite-size heat baths. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2009 Mar;79(3 Pt 1):031128. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.79.031128. Epub 2009 Mar 31. PMID: 19391923.

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