1
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Kamimura S, Yoshida K, Tokura Y, Matsuzaki Y. Universal Scaling Bounds on a Quantum Heat Current. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:090401. [PMID: 37721850 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.090401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
In this Letter, we derive new bounds on a heat current flowing into a quantum L-particle system coupled with a Markovian environment. By assuming that a system Hamiltonian and a system-environment interaction Hamiltonian are extensive in L, we prove that the absolute value of the heat current scales at most as Θ(L^{3}) in a limit of large L. Furthermore, we present an example of noninteracting particles globally coupled with a thermal bath, for which this bound is saturated in terms of scaling. However, the construction of such a system requires many-body interactions induced by the environment, which may be difficult to realize with the existing technology. To consider more feasible cases, we consider a class of the system where any nondiagonal elements of the noise operator (derived from the system-environment interaction Hamiltonian) become zero in the system energy basis, if the energy difference exceeds a certain value ΔE. Then, for ΔE=Θ(L^{0}), we derive another scaling bound Θ(L^{2}) on the absolute value of the heat current, and the so-called superradiance belongs to a class for which this bound is saturated. Our results are useful for evaluating the best achievable performance of quantum-enhanced thermodynamic devices, including far-reaching applications such as quantum heat engines, quantum refrigerators, and quantum batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Kamimura
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
- Research Center for Emerging Computing Technologies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
| | - Kyo Yoshida
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tokura
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Matsuzaki
- Research Center for Emerging Computing Technologies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
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2
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Lu J, Wang R, Wang C, Jiang JH. Thermoelectric Rectification and Amplification in Interacting Quantum-Dot Circuit-Quantum-Electrodynamics Systems. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:498. [PMID: 36981386 PMCID: PMC10047699 DOI: 10.3390/e25030498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Thermoelectric rectification and amplification were investigated in an interacting quantum-dot circuit-quantum-electrodynamics system. By applying the Keldysh nonequilibrium Green's function approach, we studied the elastic (energy-conserving) and inelastic (energy-nonconserving) transport through a cavity-coupled quantum dot under the voltage biases in a wide spectrum of electron-electron and electron-photon interactions. While significant charge and Peltier rectification effects were found for strong light-matter interactions, the dependence on electron-electron interaction could be nonmonotonic and dramatic. Electron-electron interaction-enhanced transport was found under certain resonance conditions. These nontrivial interaction effects were found in both linear and nonlinear transport regimes, which manifested in charge and thermal currents, rectification effects, and the linear thermal transistor effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Physical Science and Technology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Rongqian Wang
- Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Physics, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jian-Hua Jiang
- Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics, School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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3
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Haldar S, Havir H, Khan W, Lehmann S, Thelander C, Dick KA, Maisi VF. Energetics of Microwaves Probed by Double Quantum Dot Absorption. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:087003. [PMID: 36898111 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.087003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We explore the energetics of microwaves interacting with a double quantum dot photodiode and show wave-particle aspects in photon-assisted tunneling. The experiments show that the single-photon energy sets the relevant absorption energy in a weak-drive limit, which contrasts the strong-drive limit where the wave amplitude determines the relevant-energy scale and opens up microwave-induced bias triangles. The threshold condition between these two regimes is set by the fine-structure constant of the system. The energetics are determined here with the detuning conditions of the double dot system and stopping-potential measurements that constitute a microwave version of the photoelectric effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhomoy Haldar
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Harald Havir
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Waqar Khan
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
- Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Lund University, Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Lehmann
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Claes Thelander
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Kimberly A Dick
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
- Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Lund University, Box 124, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ville F Maisi
- NanoLund and Solid State Physics, Lund University, Box 118, 22100 Lund, Sweden
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4
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Kamimura S, Hakoshima H, Matsuzaki Y, Yoshida K, Tokura Y. Quantum-Enhanced Heat Engine Based on Superabsorption. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:180602. [PMID: 35594102 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.180602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We propose a quantum-enhanced heat engine with entanglement. The key feature of our scheme is superabsorption, which facilitates enhanced energy absorption by entangled qubits. Whereas a conventional engine with N separable qubits provides power with a scaling of P=Θ(N), our engine uses superabsorption to provide power with a quantum scaling of P=Θ(N^{2}). This quantum heat engine also exhibits a scaling advantage over classical ones composed of N-particle Langevin systems. Our work elucidates the quantum properties allowing for the enhancement of performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Kamimura
- Research Center for Emerging Computing Technologies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hakoshima
- Research Center for Emerging Computing Technologies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
- Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology, Osaka University, 1-2 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Matsuzaki
- Research Center for Emerging Computing Technologies, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
| | - Kyo Yoshida
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tokura
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
- Tsukuba Research Center for Energy Materials Science (TREMS), Tsukuba 305-8571, Japan
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5
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Ryu S, López R, Serra L, Sánchez D. Beating Carnot efficiency with periodically driven chiral conductors. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2512. [PMID: 35523762 PMCID: PMC9076907 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30039-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Classically, the power generated by an ideal thermal machine cannot be larger than the Carnot limit. This profound result is rooted in the second law of thermodynamics. A hot question is whether this bound is still valid for microengines operating far from equilibrium. Here, we demonstrate that a quantum chiral conductor driven by AC voltage can indeed work with efficiencies much larger than the Carnot bound. The system also extracts work from common temperature baths, violating Kelvin-Planck statement. Nonetheless, with the proper definition, entropy production is always positive and the second law is preserved. The crucial ingredients to obtain efficiencies beyond the Carnot limit are: i) irreversible entropy production by the photoassisted excitation processes due to the AC field and ii) absence of power injection thanks to chirality. Our results are relevant in view of recent developments that use small conductors to test the fundamental limits of thermodynamic engines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungguen Ryu
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB), E-07122, Palma, Spain.
| | - Rosa López
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB), E-07122, Palma, Spain
| | - Llorenç Serra
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB), E-07122, Palma, Spain
| | - David Sánchez
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB), E-07122, Palma, Spain
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6
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Dorsch S, Svilans A, Josefsson M, Goldozian B, Kumar M, Thelander C, Wacker A, Burke A. Heat Driven Transport in Serial Double Quantum Dot Devices. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:988-994. [PMID: 33459021 PMCID: PMC7875509 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies of thermally induced transport in nanostructures provide access to an exciting regime where fluctuations are relevant, enabling the investigation of fundamental thermodynamic concepts and the realization of thermal energy harvesters. We study a serial double quantum dot formed in an InAs/InP nanowire coupled to two electron reservoirs. By means of a specially designed local metallic joule-heater, the temperature of the phonon bath in the vicinity of the double quantum dot can be enhanced. This results in phonon-assisted transport, enabling the conversion of local heat into electrical power in a nanosized heat engine. Simultaneously, the electron temperatures of the reservoirs are affected, resulting in conventional thermoelectric transport. By detailed modeling and experimentally tuning the interdot coupling, we disentangle both effects. Furthermore, we show that phonon-assisted transport is sensitive to excited states. Our findings demonstrate the versatility of our design to study fluctuations and fundamental nanothermodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Dorsch
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Artis Svilans
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Josefsson
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Bahareh Goldozian
- Mathematical
Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Claes Thelander
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Wacker
- Mathematical
Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Adam Burke
- Solid
State Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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7
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Rivas Á. Strong Coupling Thermodynamics of Open Quantum Systems. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:160601. [PMID: 32383934 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.160601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A general thermodynamic framework is presented for open quantum systems in fixed contact with a thermal reservoir. The first and second law are obtained for arbitrary system-reservoir coupling strengths, and including both factorized and correlated initial conditions. The thermodynamic properties are adapted to the generally strong coupling regime, approaching the ones defined for equilibrium, and their standard weak-coupling counterparts as appropriate limits. Moreover, they can be inferred from measurements involving only system observables. Finally, a thermodynamic signature of non-Markovianity is formulated in the form of a negative entropy production rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Rivas
- Departamento de Física Teórica, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain and CCS-Center for Computational Simulation, Campus de Montegancedo UPM, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Peterson JPS, Batalhão TB, Herrera M, Souza AM, Sarthour RS, Oliveira IS, Serra RM. Experimental Characterization of a Spin Quantum Heat Engine. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:240601. [PMID: 31922824 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.240601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Developments in the thermodynamics of small quantum systems envisage nonclassical thermal machines. In this scenario, energy fluctuations play a relevant role in the description of irreversibility. We experimentally implement a quantum heat engine based on a spin-1/2 system and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Irreversibility at a microscope scale is fully characterized by the assessment of energy fluctuations associated with the work and heat flows. We also investigate the efficiency lag related to the entropy production at finite time. The implemented heat engine operates in a regime where both thermal and quantum fluctuations (associated with transitions among the instantaneous energy eigenstates) are relevant to its description. Performing a quantum Otto cycle at maximum power, the proof-of-concept quantum heat engine is able to reach an efficiency for work extraction (η≈42%) very close to its thermodynamic limit (η=44%).
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Affiliation(s)
- John P S Peterson
- Institute for Quantum Computing and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tiago B Batalhão
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, 09210-580 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
- Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Marcela Herrera
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, 09210-580 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre M Souza
- Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto S Sarthour
- Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ivan S Oliveira
- Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto M Serra
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, 09210-580 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
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9
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Jaliel G, Puddy RK, Sánchez R, Jordan AN, Sothmann B, Farrer I, Griffiths JP, Ritchie DA, Smith CG. Experimental Realization of a Quantum Dot Energy Harvester. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:117701. [PMID: 31573223 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.117701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate experimentally an autonomous nanoscale energy harvester that utilizes the physics of resonant tunneling quantum dots. Gate-defined quantum dots on GaAs/AlGaAs high-electron-mobility transistors are placed on either side of a hot-electron reservoir. The discrete energy levels of the quantum dots are tuned to be aligned with low energy electrons on one side and high energy electrons on the other side of the hot reservoir. The quantum dots thus act as energy filters and allow for the conversion of heat from the cavity into electrical power. Our energy harvester, measured at an estimated base temperature of 75 mK in a He^{3}/He^{4} dilution refrigerator, can generate a thermal power of 0.13 fW for a temperature difference across each dot of about 67 mK.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Jaliel
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - R K Puddy
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - R Sánchez
- Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - A N Jordan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - B Sothmann
- Theoretische Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen and CENIDE, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany
| | - I Farrer
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - J P Griffiths
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - D A Ritchie
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - C G Smith
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
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10
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Hardal AÜC, Aslan N, Wilson CM, Müstecaplıoğlu ÖE. Quantum heat engine with coupled superconducting resonators. Phys Rev E 2017; 96:062120. [PMID: 29347310 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.062120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We propose a quantum heat engine composed of two superconducting transmission line resonators interacting with each other via an optomechanical-like coupling. One resonator is periodically excited by a thermal pump. The incoherently driven resonator induces coherent oscillations in the other one due to the coupling. A limit cycle, indicating finite power output, emerges in the thermodynamical phase space. The system implements an all-electrical analog of a photonic piston. Instead of mechanical motion, the power output is obtained as a coherent electrical charging in our case. We explore the differences between the quantum and classical descriptions of our system by solving the quantum master equation and classical Langevin equations. Specifically, we calculate the mean number of excitations, second-order coherence, as well as the entropy, temperature, power, and mean energy to reveal the signatures of quantum behavior in the statistical and thermodynamic properties of the system. We find evidence of a quantum enhancement in the power output of the engine at low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ü C Hardal
- Department of Physics, Koç University, Sarıyer, İstanbul, 34450, Turkey.,Department of Photonics Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads 343, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nur Aslan
- Department of Physics, Koç University, Sarıyer, İstanbul, 34450, Turkey
| | - C M Wilson
- Institute of Quantum Computing and Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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11
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Cottet A, Dartiailh MC, Desjardins MM, Cubaynes T, Contamin LC, Delbecq M, Viennot JJ, Bruhat LE, Douçot B, Kontos T. Cavity QED with hybrid nanocircuits: from atomic-like physics to condensed matter phenomena. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2017; 29:433002. [PMID: 28925381 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aa7b4d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Circuit QED techniques have been instrumental in manipulating and probing with exquisite sensitivity the quantum state of superconducting quantum bits coupled to microwave cavities. Recently, it has become possible to fabricate new devices in which the superconducting quantum bits are replaced by hybrid mesoscopic circuits combining nanoconductors and metallic reservoirs. This mesoscopic QED provides a new experimental playground to study the light-matter interaction in electronic circuits. Here, we present the experimental state of the art of mesoscopic QED and its theoretical description. A first class of experiments focuses on the artificial atom limit, where some quasiparticles are trapped in nanocircuit bound states. In this limit, the circuit QED techniques can be used to manipulate and probe electronic degrees of freedom such as confined charges, spins, or Andreev pairs. A second class of experiments uses cavity photons to reveal the dynamics of electron tunneling between a nanoconductor and fermionic reservoirs. For instance, the Kondo effect, the charge relaxation caused by grounded metallic contacts, and the photo-emission caused by voltage-biased reservoirs have been studied. The tunnel coupling between nanoconductors and fermionic reservoirs also enable one to obtain split Cooper pairs, or Majorana bound states. Cavity photons represent a qualitatively new tool to study these exotic condensed matter states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Cottet
- Laboratoire Pierre Aigrain, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR 8551, Laboratoire associé aux universités Pierre et Marie Curie et Denis Diderot, 24, rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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12
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Brandner K, Bauer M, Seifert U. Universal Coherence-Induced Power Losses of Quantum Heat Engines in Linear Response. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:170602. [PMID: 29219425 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.170602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We identify a universal indicator for the impact of coherence on periodically driven quantum devices by dividing their power output into a classical contribution and one stemming solely from superpositions. Specializing to Lindblad dynamics and small driving amplitudes, we derive general upper bounds on both the coherent and the total power of cyclic heat engines. These constraints imply that, for sufficiently slow driving, coherence inevitably leads to power losses in the linear-response regime. We illustrate our theory by working out the experimentally relevant example of a single-qubit engine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Brandner
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Michael Bauer
- II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Udo Seifert
- II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
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13
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Samuelsson P, Kheradsoud S, Sothmann B. Optimal Quantum Interference Thermoelectric Heat Engine with Edge States. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:256801. [PMID: 28696742 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.256801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We show theoretically that a thermoelectric heat engine, operating exclusively due to quantum-mechanical interference, can reach optimal linear-response performance. A chiral edge state implementation of a close-to-optimal heat engine is proposed in an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a mesoscopic capacitor coupled to one arm. We demonstrate that the maximum power and corresponding efficiency can reach 90% and 83%, respectively, of the theoretical maximum. The proposed heat engine can be realized with existing experimental techniques and has a performance robust against moderate dephasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Samuelsson
- Physics Department and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Kheradsoud
- Physics Department and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Björn Sothmann
- Theoretische Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen and CENIDE, D-47048 Duisburg, Germany
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14
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Thermal conductance of Nb thin films at sub-kelvin temperatures. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41728. [PMID: 28155895 PMCID: PMC5290528 DOI: 10.1038/srep41728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We determine the thermal conductance of thin niobium (Nb) wires on a silica substrate in the temperature range of 0.1–0.6 K using electron thermometry based on normal metal-insulator-superconductor tunnel junctions. We find that at 0.6 K, the thermal conductance of Nb is two orders of magnitude lower than that of Al in the superconducting state, and two orders of magnitude below the Wiedemann-Franz conductance calculated with the normal state resistance of the wire. The measured thermal conductance exceeds the prediction of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, and demonstrates a power law dependence on temperature as T4.5, instead of an exponential one. At the same time, we monitor the temperature profile of the substrate along the Nb wire to observe possible overheating of the phonon bath. We show that Nb can be successfully used for thermal insulation in a nanoscale circuit while simultaneously providing an electrical connection.
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15
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16
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17
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Quantum Heat Machines Equivalence, Work Extraction beyond Markovianity, and Strong Coupling via Heat Exchangers. ENTROPY 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/e18040124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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18
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Thermal electron-tunneling devices as coolers and amplifiers. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21425. [PMID: 26893109 PMCID: PMC4759785 DOI: 10.1038/srep21425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoscale thermal systems that are associated with a pair of electron reservoirs have been previously studied. In particular, devices that adjust electron tunnels relatively to reservoirs' chemical potentials enjoy the novelty and the potential. Since only two reservoirs and one tunnel exist, however, designers need external aids to complete a cycle, rendering their models non-spontaneous. Here we design thermal conversion devices that are operated among three electron reservoirs connected by energy-filtering tunnels and also referred to as thermal electron-tunneling devices. They are driven by one of electron reservoirs rather than the external power input, and are equivalent to those coupling systems consisting of forward and reverse Carnot cycles with energy selective electron functions. These previously-unreported electronic devices can be used as coolers and thermal amplifiers and may be called as thermal transistors. The electron and energy fluxes of devices are capable of being manipulated in the same or oppsite directions at our disposal. The proposed model can open a new field in the application of nano-devices.
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Abstract
We propose a quantum Otto cycle based on the properties of a two-level system in a realistic out-of-thermal-equilibrium electromagnetic field acting as its sole reservoir. This steady configuration is produced without the need of active control over the state of the environment, which is a noncoherent thermal radiation, sustained only by external heat supplied to macroscopic objects. Remarkably, even for nonideal finite-time transformations, it largely over-performs the standard ideal Otto cycle and asymptotically achieves unit efficiency at finite power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Leggio
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, F-34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Mauro Antezza
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, F-34095 Montpellier, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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20
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Lambert N, Nori F, Flindt C. Bistable Photon Emission from a Solid-State Single-Atom Laser. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 115:216803. [PMID: 26636864 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.115.216803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We predict a bistability in the photon emission from a solid-state single-atom laser comprising a microwave cavity coupled to a voltage-biased double quantum dot. To demonstrate that the single-atom laser is bistable, we evaluate the photon emission statistics and show that the distribution takes the shape of a tilted ellipse. The switching rates of the bistability can be extracted from the electrical current and the shot noise in the quantum dots. This provides a means to control the photon emission statistics by modulating the electronic transport in the quantum dots. Our prediction is robust against moderate electronic decoherence and dephasing and is important for current efforts to realize single-atom lasers with gate-defined quantum dots as the gain medium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Franco Nori
- CEMS, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1040, USA
| | - Christian Flindt
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
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21
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Deng GW, Wei D, Li SX, Johansson JR, Kong WC, Li HO, Cao G, Xiao M, Guo GC, Nori F, Jiang HW, Guo GP. Coupling Two Distant Double Quantum Dots with a Microwave Resonator. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:6620-6625. [PMID: 26327140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We fabricated a hybrid device with two distant graphene double quantum dots (DQDs) and a microwave resonator. A nonlinear response is observed in the resonator reflection amplitude when the two DQDs are jointly tuned to the vicinity of the degeneracy points. This observation can be well fitted by the Tavis-Cummings (T-C) model which describes two two-level systems coupling with one photonic field. Furthermore, the correlation between the DC currents in the two DQDs is studied. A nonzero cross-current correlation is observed which has been theoretically predicted to be an important sign of nonlocal coupling between two distant systems. Our results explore T-C physics in electronic transport and also contribute to the study of nonlocal transport and future implementations of remote electronic entanglement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Wei Deng
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Da Wei
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Shu-Xiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | | | - Wei-Cheng Kong
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Hai-Ou Li
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Gang Cao
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Ming Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Guang-Can Guo
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Franco Nori
- Physics Department, The University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1040, United States
| | - Hong-Wen Jiang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California at Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Guo-Ping Guo
- Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Hefei 230026, China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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22
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Yamamoto K, Hatano N. Thermodynamics of the mesoscopic thermoelectric heat engine beyond the linear-response regime. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 92:042165. [PMID: 26565226 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.92.042165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mesoscopic thermoelectric heat engine is much anticipated as a device that allows us to utilize with high efficiency wasted heat inaccessible by conventional heat engines. However, the derivation of the heat current in this engine seems to be either not general or described too briefly, even inappropriately in some cases. In this paper, we give a clear-cut derivation of the heat current of the engine with suitable assumptions beyond the linear-response regime. It resolves the confusion in the definition of the heat current in the linear-response regime. After verifying that we can construct the same formalism as that of the cyclic engine, we find the following two interesting results within the Landauer-Büttiker formalism: the efficiency of the mesoscopic thermoelectric engine reaches the Carnot efficiency if and only if the transmission probability is finite at a specific energy and zero otherwise; the unitarity of the transmission probability guarantees the second law of thermodynamics, invalidating Benenti et al.'s argument in the linear-response regime that one could obtain a finite power with the Carnot efficiency under a broken time-reversal symmetry [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 230602 (2011)]. These results demonstrate how quantum mechanics constrains thermodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Yamamoto
- Department of Physics, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
| | - Naomichi Hatano
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
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23
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Thierschmann H, Sánchez R, Sothmann B, Arnold F, Heyn C, Hansen W, Buhmann H, Molenkamp LW. Three-terminal energy harvester with coupled quantum dots. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 10:854-8. [PMID: 26280407 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2015.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Rectification of thermal fluctuations in mesoscopic conductors is the key idea behind recent attempts to build nanoscale thermoelectric energy harvesters to convert heat into useful electric power. So far, most concepts have made use of the Seebeck effect in a two-terminal geometry, where heat and charge are both carried by the same particles. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the working principle of a new kind of energy harvester, proposed recently, using two capacitively coupled quantum dots. We show that, due to the novel three-terminal design of our device, which spatially separates the heat reservoir from the conductor circuit, the directions of charge and heat flow become decoupled. This enables us to manipulate the direction of the generated charge current by means of external gate voltages while leaving the direction of heat flow unaffected. Our results pave the way for a new generation of multi-terminal nanoscale heat engines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Thierschmann
- Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
| | - Rafael Sánchez
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Björn Sothmann
- Département de Physique Théorique, Université de Genève, Genève 4 CH-1211, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Arnold
- Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
| | - Christian Heyn
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 11, Hamburg D-20355, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hansen
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 11, Hamburg D-20355, Germany
| | - Hartmut Buhmann
- Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
| | - Laurens W Molenkamp
- Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
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24
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Hardal AÜC, Müstecaplıoğlu ÖE. Superradiant Quantum Heat Engine. Sci Rep 2015; 5:12953. [PMID: 26260797 PMCID: PMC4531314 DOI: 10.1038/srep12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantum physics revolutionized classical disciplines of mechanics, statistical physics, and electrodynamics. One branch of scientific knowledge however seems untouched: thermodynamics. Major motivation behind thermodynamics is to develop efficient heat engines. Technology has a trend to miniaturize engines, reaching to quantum regimes. Development of quantum heat engines (QHEs) requires emerging field of quantum thermodynamics. Studies of QHEs debate whether quantum coherence can be used as a resource. We explore an alternative where it can function as an effective catalyst. We propose a QHE which consists of a photon gas inside an optical cavity as the working fluid and quantum coherent atomic clusters as the fuel. Utilizing the superradiance, where a cluster can radiate quadratically faster than a single atom, we show that the work output becomes proportional to the square of the number of the atoms. In addition to practical value of cranking up QHE, our result is a fundamental difference of a quantum fuel from its classical counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ü. C. Hardal
- Department of Physics, Koç University, İstanbul, Saryer 34450, Turkey
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25
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Xiao G, Gong J. Principle of minimal work fluctuations. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 92:022130. [PMID: 26382367 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.92.022130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and manipulating work fluctuations in microscale and nanoscale systems are of both fundamental and practical interest. For example, in considering the Jarzynski equality 〈e-βW〉=e-βΔF, a change in the fluctuations of e-βW may impact how rapidly the statistical average of e-βW converges towards the theoretical value e-βΔF, where W is the work, β is the inverse temperature, and ΔF is the free energy difference between two equilibrium states. Motivated by our previous study aiming at the suppression of work fluctuations, here we obtain a principle of minimal work fluctuations. In brief, adiabatic processes as treated in quantum and classical adiabatic theorems yield the minimal fluctuations in e-βW. In the quantum domain, if a system initially prepared at thermal equilibrium is subjected to a work protocol but isolated from a bath during the time evolution, then a quantum adiabatic process without energy level crossing (or an assisted adiabatic process reaching the same final states as in a conventional adiabatic process) yields the minimal fluctuations in e-βW, where W is the quantum work defined by two energy measurements at the beginning and at the end of the process. In the classical domain where the classical work protocol is realizable by an adiabatic process, then the classical adiabatic process also yields the minimal fluctuations in e-βW. Numerical experiments based on a Landau-Zener process confirm our theory in the quantum domain, and our theory in the classical domain explains our previous numerical findings regarding the suppression of classical work fluctuations [G. Y. Xiao and J. B. Gong, Phys. Rev. E 90, 052132 (2014)].
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoyang Xiao
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
| | - Jiangbin Gong
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
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26
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Xiao G, Gong J. Construction and optimization of a quantum analog of the Carnot cycle. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 92:012118. [PMID: 26274135 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.92.012118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The quantum analog of Carnot cycles in few-particle systems consists of two quantum adiabatic steps and two isothermal steps. This construction is formally justified by use of a minimum work principle. It is then shown, using minimal assumptions of work or heat in nanoscale systems, that the heat-to-work efficiency of such quantum heat engine cycles can be further optimized via two conditions regarding the expectation value of some generalized force operators evaluated at equilibrium states. In general the optimized efficiency is system specific, lower than the Carnot efficiency, and dependent upon both temperatures of the cold and hot reservoirs. Simple computational examples are used to illustrate our theory. The results should be an important guide towards the design of favorable working conditions of a realistic quantum heat engine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoyang Xiao
- Department of Physics and Centre for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
| | - Jiangbin Gong
- Department of Physics and Centre for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
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27
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Wang J, Lai Y, Ye Z, He J, Ma Y, Liao Q. Four-level refrigerator driven by photons. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 91:050102. [PMID: 26066099 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.91.050102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We propose a quantum absorption refrigerator driven by photons. The model uses a four-level system as its working substance and couples simultaneously to hot, cold, and solar heat reservoirs. Explicit expressions for the cooling power Q̇(c) and coefficient of performance (COP) η(COP) are derived, with the purpose of revealing and optimizing the performance of the device. Our model runs most efficiently under the tight coupling condition, and it is consistent with the third law of thermodynamics in the limit T→0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Wang
- Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yiming Lai
- Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhuolin Ye
- Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jizhou He
- Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Yongli Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qinghong Liao
- Department of Electronic Information Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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28
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Sánchez R, Sothmann B, Jordan AN. Chiral thermoelectrics with quantum Hall edge states. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 114:146801. [PMID: 25910147 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.114.146801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The thermoelectric properties of a three-terminal quantum Hall conductor are investigated. We identify a contribution to the thermoelectric response that relies on the chirality of the carrier motion rather than on spatial asymmetries. The Onsager matrix becomes maximally asymmetric with configurations where either the Seebeck or the Peltier coefficients are zero while the other one remains finite. Reversing the magnetic field direction exchanges these effects, which originate from the chiral nature of the quantum Hall edge states. The possibility to generate spin-polarized currents in quantum spin Hall samples is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Sánchez
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Björn Sothmann
- Département de Physique Théorique, Université de Genève, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - Andrew N Jordan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
- Institute for Quantum Studies, Chapman University, Orange, California 92866, USA
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29
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Sothmann B, Sánchez R, Jordan AN. Thermoelectric energy harvesting with quantum dots. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 26:032001. [PMID: 25549281 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/3/032001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We review recent theoretical work on thermoelectric energy harvesting in multi-terminal quantum-dot setups. We first discuss several examples of nanoscale heat engines based on Coulomb-coupled conductors. In particular, we focus on quantum dots in the Coulomb-blockade regime, chaotic cavities and resonant tunneling through quantum dots and wells. We then turn toward quantum-dot heat engines that are driven by bosonic degrees of freedom such as phonons, magnons and microwave photons. These systems provide interesting connections to spin caloritronics and circuit quantum electrodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Sothmann
- Département de Physique Théorique, Université de Genève, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
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30
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Plastina F, Alecce A, Apollaro TJG, Falcone G, Francica G, Galve F, Lo Gullo N, Zambrini R. Irreversible work and inner friction in quantum thermodynamic processes. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 113:260601. [PMID: 25615295 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.113.260601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We discuss the thermodynamics of closed quantum systems driven out of equilibrium by a change in a control parameter and undergoing a unitary process. We compare the work actually done on the system with the one that would be performed along ideal adiabatic and isothermal transformations. The comparison with the latter leads to the introduction of irreversible work, while that with the former leads to the introduction of inner friction. We show that these two quantities can be treated on an equal footing, as both can be linked with the heat exchanged in thermalization processes and both can be expressed as relative entropies. Furthermore, we show that a specific fluctuation relation for the entropy production associated with the inner friction exists, which allows the inner friction to be written in terms of its cumulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Plastina
- Dip. Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy and INFN-Gruppo collegato di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
| | - A Alecce
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova (Italy)
| | - T J G Apollaro
- Dip. Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy and INFN-Gruppo collegato di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy and Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - G Falcone
- Dip. Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy and INFN-Gruppo collegato di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
| | - G Francica
- Dip. Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy and INFN-Gruppo collegato di Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
| | - F Galve
- IFISC (UIB-CSIC), Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos, UIB Campus, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - N Lo Gullo
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "G. Galilei", Università degli Studi di Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova (Italy) and CNISM, Sezione di Padova, Italy
| | - R Zambrini
- IFISC (UIB-CSIC), Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos, UIB Campus, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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31
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Xiao G, Gong J. Suppression of work fluctuations by optimal control: An approach based on Jarzynski's equality. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2014; 90:052132. [PMID: 25493764 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.90.052132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and manipulating work fluctuations in microscale and nanoscale systems are of both fundamental and practical interest. For example, aspects of work fluctuations will be an important factor in designing nanoscale heat engines. In this work, an optimal control approach directly exploiting Jarzynski's equality is proposed to effectively suppress the fluctuations in the work statistics, for systems (initially at thermal equilibrium) subject to a work protocol but isolated from a bath during the protocol. The control strategy is to minimize the deviations of individual values of e^{-βW} from their ensemble average given by e^{-βΔF}, where W is the work, β is the inverse temperature, and ΔF is the free energy difference between two equilibrium states. It is further shown that even when the system Hamiltonian is not fully known, it is still possible to suppress work fluctuations through a feedback loop, by refining the control target function on the fly through Jarzynski's equality itself. Numerical experiments are based on linear and nonlinear parametric oscillators. Optimal control results for linear parametric oscillators are also benchmarked with early results based on shortcuts to adiabaticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoyang Xiao
- Department of Physics and Centre for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
| | - Jiangbin Gong
- Department of Physics and Centre for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542
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32
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Zhang K, Bariani F, Meystre P. Quantum optomechanical heat engine. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 112:150602. [PMID: 24785017 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.112.150602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We investigate theoretically a quantum optomechanical realization of a heat engine. In a generic optomechanical arrangement the optomechanical coupling between the cavity field and the oscillating end mirror results in polariton normal mode excitations whose character depends on the pump detuning and the coupling strength. By varying that detuning it is possible to transform their character from phononlike to photonlike, so that they are predominantly coupled to the thermal reservoir of phonons or photons, respectively. We exploit the fact that the effective temperatures of these two reservoirs are different to produce an Otto cycle along one of the polariton branches. We discuss the basic properties of the system in two different regimes: in the optical domain it is possible to extract work from the thermal energy of a mechanical resonator at finite temperature, while in the microwave range one can in principle exploit the cycle to extract work from the blackbody radiation background coupled to an ultracold atomic ensemble.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keye Zhang
- Quantum Institute for Light and Atoms, Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China and B2 Institute, Department of Physics and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Francesco Bariani
- B2 Institute, Department of Physics and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
| | - Pierre Meystre
- B2 Institute, Department of Physics and College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA
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