Quantum limitation on experimental testing of nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems

We consider work fluctuation theorems for isolated driven systems and the possibility to probe them in mesoscopic systems. In this context nonequilibrium fluctuation theorems (NFTs) relate work performed on a system as its Hamiltonian varies with time, to equilibrium data of the initial and final states. In a classical context the system energy can be directly measured, while a quantum implementation requires the incorporation of a work agent. Here, as a work agent we consider a dynamical single-coordinate object, which exchanges energy with the system. The work done on the system is defined as the energy reduction of the work agent, which requires an energy measurement of the agent (only) at the end of the process. To justify the applicability of the NFT we require the agent's trajectory to be weakly affected by the energy exchange with the system. We furthermore argue that the uncertainty in the energy measurements imposes an inherent quantum limitation on the validity of the NFT. We demonstrate our findings for a two-level system, and discuss applications to more complex mesoscopic systems.