Thermodynamic uncertainty relation for first-passage times on Markov chains

We derive a thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR) for first-passage times (FPTs) on continuous time Markov chains. The TUR utilizes the entropy production coming from bidirectional transitions, and net flux unidirectional to provide lower bound FPT fluctuations. As every transition can also be seen as pair of separate ones, our approach typically yields an ensemble TURs. tightest fluctuations then obtained this by simple physically motivated optimization procedure. results presented herein are valid arbitrary initial conditions, out-of-equilibrium dynamics, therefore well suited describe inherently irreversible event. They thus readily applied myriad problems that arise across wide range disciplines.Received 5 April 2021Accepted 14 July 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.L032034Published American Physical Society under terms Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution work must maintain attribution author(s) published article's title, journal citation, DOI.Published SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasThermodynamicsTechniquesFirst passage problemsStatistical Physics