Application of Jarzynski's equality in simple versus complex systems

Lateral views of the carbon nanotube (left) and the gramicidin A channel (right) systems. The nanotube is surrounded by a layer of capped nanotubes (only two are shown for clarity). Gramicidin A is embedded in a lipid bilayer (only the head groups of the lipid molecules are depicted by large balls). The K+ ion is at the pore centre surrounded by single-file water molecules (little balls) in both cases. The systems are hydrated with water on both sides.