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Experimental demonstration that a free-falling aerosol particle obeys a fluctuation theorem
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Experimental demonstration that a free-falling aerosol particle obeys a fluctuation theorem

Chun-Shang Wong, J Goree and Ranganathan Gopalakrishnan
Physical review. E, Vol.97(5-1), pp.050601-050601
05/2018
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.97.050601
PMID: 29906952
url
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1863396View
Open Access

Abstract

We investigate the fluctuating motion of an aerosol particle falling in air. Using a Millikan-like setup, we tracked a 1-μm sphere falling at its terminal velocity. We observe occurrences of particles undergoing upward displacements against the force of gravity, so that negative work is done briefly. These negative-work events have a probability that is shown to obey the work fluctuation theorem. This experimental confirmation of the theorem's applicability to aerosols leads us to develop and demonstrate an application: an in situ measurement of an aerosol particle's mass.

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