Decomposition of entropy production for free-energy generation in a non-equilibrium dot with multiple electron states

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate the decomposition of entropy production during free-energy generation in a nanometer-scale dot transitioning to a non-equilibrium steady state via single-electron counting statistics. An alternating-current signal driving a reservoir that injects multiple electrons into the dot makes it non-equilibrium, leading to free-energy generation, heat dissipation, and Shannon-entropy production. By analyzing the time-domain probability distributions of multiple electron states of the dot, we quantitatively decompose the heat dissipation into housekeeping and excess heats, revealing the correlation between the free energy and the decomposed components of heat dissipation. This correlation suggests that the ratio of the generated free energy to the work applied to the dot, can potentially reach 0.5 under far-from-equilibrium conditions induced by a large signal, while an efficiency of 0.25 was experimentally achieved. Our results, providing the theoretical and experimental efficiencies from the relation between decomposed heat dissipation and free-energy generation, promise to connect non-equilibrium thermodynamics perspectives to electronic devices.