The second law, Maxwell's demon, and work derivable from quantum heat engines

With a class of quantum heat engines which consists of two-energy-eigenstate systems undergoing, respectively, quantum adiabatic processes and energy exchanges with heat baths at different stages of a cycle, we are able to clarify some important aspects of the second law of thermodynamics. The quantum heat engines also offer a practical way, as an alternative to Szilard's engine, to physically realize Maxwell's demon. While respecting the second law on the average, they are also capable of extracting more work from the heat baths than is otherwise possible in thermal equilibrium.     

Second law of thermodynamics with discrete quantum feedback control

A new thermodynamic inequality is derived which leads to the maximum work that can be extracted from multi-heat-baths with the assistance of discrete quantum feedback control. The maximum work is determined by the free-energy difference and a generalized mutual information content between the thermodynamic system and the feedback controller. This maximum work can exceed that in conventional thermodynamics and, in the case of a heat cycle with two heat baths, the heat efficiency can be greater than that of the Carnot cycle. The consistency of our results with the second law of thermodynamics is ensured by the fact that work is needed for information processing of the feedback controller.     

Quantum point contacts as heat engines

The efficiency of macroscopic heat engines is restricted by the second law of thermodynamics. They can reach at most the efficiency of a Carnot engine. In contrast, heat currents in mesoscopic heat engines show fluctuations. Thus, there is a small probability that a mesoscopic heat engine exceeds Carnot's maximum value during a short measurement time. We illustrate this effect using a quantum point contact as a heat engine. When a temperature difference is applied to a quantum point contact, the system may be utilized as a source of electrical power under steady state conditions. We first discuss the optimal working point of such a heat engine that maximizes the generated electrical power and subsequently calculate the statistics for deviations of the efficiency from its most likely value. We find that deviations surpassing the Carnot limit are possible, but unlikely.     

Reprint of : Quantum point contacts as heat engines

The efficiency of macroscopic heat engines is restricted by the second law of thermodynamics. They can reach at most the efficiency of a Carnot engine. In contrast, heat currents in mesoscopic heat engines show fluctuations. Thus, there is a small probability that a mesoscopic heat engine exceeds Carnot's maximum value during a short measurement time. We illustrate this effect using a quantum point contact as a heat engine. When a temperature difference is applied to a quantum point contact, the system may be utilized as a source of electrical power under steady state conditions. We first discuss the optimal working point of such a heat engine that maximizes the generated electrical power and subsequently calculate the statistics for deviations of the efficiency from its most likely value. We find that deviations surpassing the Carnot limit are possible, but unlikely.     

带有Dzyaloshinski-Mariya相互作用的两比特纠缠量子Otto热机和量子Stirling热机

研究了以带有Dzyaloshinski-Mariya(DM)相互作用的两比特自旋体系为工质的量子纠缠Otto热机和量子Stirling热机.两种不同热机在各自的循环过程中,通过保持其他参量不变,只有DM相互作用发生改变,从而分析热机循环中DM相互作用与热传递、做功以及效率等热力学量之间的关系.研究结果表明:DM相互作用对两种热机的基本量子热力学量都具有重要的影响,但量子Stirling热机由于回热器的使用,其循环效率会大于量子Otto纠缠热机的效率,甚至会超过Carnot效率;得到了量子Otto纠缠热机和量子Stirling热机做正功的条件.因此,在这两个纠缠体系中,热力学第二定律都依然成立.     

Comparing Two Definitions of Work for a Biological Quantum Heat Engine

Systems of photosynthetic reaction centres have been modelled as heat engines, while it has also been reported that the efficiency and power of such heat engines can be enhanced by quantum interference|a trait that has attracted much interest. We compare two definitions of the work of such a photosynthetic heat engine, i.e. definition A used by Weimer et al. and B by Dorfman et al. We also introduce a coherent interaction between donor and acceptor (CIDA) to demonstrate a reversible energy transport. We show that these two definitions of work can impart contradictory results, that is, CIDA enhances the power and efficiency of the photosynthetic heat engine with definition B but not with A. Additionally, we find that both reversible and irreversible excitation-energy transport can be described with definition A, but definition B can only model irreversible transport. As a result, we conclude that definition A is more suitable for photosynthetic systems than definition B.     

Bound on Efficiency of Heat Engine from Uncertainty Relation Viewpoint

Quantum cycles in established heat engines can be modeled with various quantum systems as working substances. For example, a heat engine can be modeled with an infinite potential well as the working substance to determine the efficiency and work done. However, in this method, the relationship between the quantum observables and the physically measurable parameters—i.e., the efficiency and work done—is not well understood from the quantum mechanics approach. A detailed analysis is needed to link the thermodynamic variables (on which the efficiency and work done depends) with the uncertainty principle for better understanding. Here, we present the connection of the sum uncertainty relation of position and momentum operators with thermodynamic variables in the quantum heat engine model. We are able to determine the upper and lower bounds on the efficiency of the heat engine through the uncertainty relation.     

Efficiency bounds for nonequilibrium heat engines

We analyze the efficiency of thermal engines (either quantum or classical) working with a single heat reservoir like an atmosphere. The engine first gets an energy intake, which can be done in an arbitrary nonequilibrium way e.g. combustion of fuel. Then the engine performs the work and returns to the initial state. We distinguish two general classes of engines where the working body first equilibrates within itself and then performs the work (ergodic engine) or when it performs the work before equilibrating (non-ergodic engine). We show that in both cases the second law of thermodynamics limits their efficiency. For ergodic engines we find a rigorous upper bound for the efficiency, which is strictly smaller than the equivalent Carnot efficiency. I.e. the Carnot efficiency can be never achieved in single reservoir heat engines. For non-ergodic engines the efficiency can be higher and can exceed the equilibrium Carnot bound. By extending the fundamental thermodynamic relation to nonequilibrium processes, we find a rigorous thermodynamic bound for the efficiency of both ergodic and non-ergodic engines and show that it is given by the relative entropy of the nonequilibrium and initial equilibrium distributions. These results suggest a new general strategy for designing more efficient engines. We illustrate our ideas by using simple examples.     

Action and Entropy in Heat Engines: An Action Revision of the Carnot Cycle

Despite the remarkable success of Carnot’s heat engine cycle in founding the discipline of thermodynamics two centuries ago, false viewpoints of his use of the caloric theory in the cycle linger, limiting his legacy. An action revision of the Carnot cycle can correct this, showing that the heat flow powering external mechanical work is compensated internally with configurational changes in the thermodynamic or Gibbs potential of the working fluid, differing in each stage of the cycle quantified by Carnot as caloric. Action (@) is a property of state having the same physical dimensions as angular momentum (mrv = mr²ω). However, this property is scalar rather than vectorial, including a dimensionless phase angle (@ = mr²ωδφ). We have recently confirmed with atmospheric gases that their entropy is a logarithmic function of the relative vibrational, rotational, and translational action ratios with Planck’s quantum of action ħ. The Carnot principle shows that the maximum rate of work (puissance motrice) possible from the reversible cycle is controlled by the difference in temperature of the hot source and the cold sink: the colder the better. This temperature difference between the source and the sink also controls the isothermal variations of the Gibbs potential of the working fluid, which Carnot identified as reversible temperature-dependent but unequal caloric exchanges. Importantly, the engine’s inertia ensures that heat from work performed adiabatically in the expansion phase is all restored to the working fluid during the adiabatic recompression, less the net work performed. This allows both the energy and the thermodynamic potential to return to the same values at the beginning of each cycle, which is a point strongly emphasized by Carnot. Our action revision equates Carnot’s calorique, or the non-sensible heat later described by Clausius as ‘work-heat’, exclusively to negative Gibbs energy (−G) or quantum field energy. This action field complements the sensible energy or vis-viva heat as molecular kinetic motion, and its recognition should have significance for designing more efficient heat engines or better understanding of the heat engine powering the Earth’s climates.     

Fourier's Law confirmed for a class of small quantum systems

Within the Lindblad formalism we consider an interacting spin chain coupled locally to heat baths. We investigate the dependence of the energy transport on the type of interaction in the system as well as on the overall interaction strength. For a large class of couplings we find a normal heat conduction and confirm Fourier's Law. In a fully quantum mechanical approach linear transport behavior appears to be generic even for small quantum systems.Received: 14 May 2003, Published online: 11 August 2003PACS: 05.60.Gg Quantum transport - 05.30.-d Quantum statistical mechanics - 05.70.Ln Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics     

Nonequilibrium Steady States of Some Simple 1-D Mechanical Chains

We study nonequilibrium steady states of some 1-D mechanical models with N moving particles on a line segment connected to unequal heat baths. For a system in which particles move freely, exchanging energy as they collide with one another, we prove that the mean energy along the chain is constant and equal to \(\frac{1}{2} \sqrt{T_{L}T_{R}}\) where T _L and T _R are the temperatures of the two baths. We then consider systems in which particles are trapped, i.e., each confined to its designated interval in the phase space, but these intervals overlap to permit interaction of neighbors. For these systems, we show numerically that the system has well defined local temperatures and obeys Fourier’s Law (with energy-dependent conductivity) provided we vary the masses randomly to enable the repartitioning of energy. Dynamical systems issues that arise in this study are discussed though their resolution is beyond reach.     

关于吸收式碳捕集热力学机制的探索

热再生吸收式碳捕集的传统认识难以揭示其热力学机制,一种新的认识是"热-化学能"转换中存在中间能量形式.本文从热力学碳泵概念出发,对吸收式碳捕集理想系统进行了解耦,其可视为"热机-碳泵"的热力学组合,探索了极限效率的表达,并采用第二定律效率作为评价参数对已有中试试验系统进行了性能水平探索.结果表明,理想循环性能系数仅取决...     

The Carnot efficiency enabled by complete degeneracies

Quantum-size effects unavoidably produce imperfect-regeneration heat losses in irreversible isothermal expansion/compression cycles, leading to the less efficiency of micro engines. Here, we design a smallest quantum Stirling-like heat engine using a single trapped electron as the working substance. The quantum probabilities to determine the electronic position are constructed from the incoherent mixed ensemble. When the quantum well expands isothermally to double its size and an infinite delta-function potential barrier is inserted in the middle, the complete degeneracies enable the heat engine to work reversibly and achieve the Carnot efficiency. The proposed theoretical model can open up new avenues for building practical nano-energy devices.     

Reversible quantum brownian heat engines for electrons

Brownian heat engines use local temperature gradients in asymmetric potentials to move particles against an external force. The energy efficiency of such machines is generally limited by irreversible heat flow carried by particles that make contact with different heat baths. Here we show that, by using a suitably chosen energy filter, electrons can be transferred reversibly between reservoirs that have different temperatures and electrochemical potentials. We apply this result to propose heat engines based on mesoscopic semiconductor ratchets, which can quasistatically operate arbitrarily close to Carnot efficiency.     

Optimal configuration for a finite high-temperature source heat engine cycle with the complex heat transfer law

The optimal configuration of a heat engine operating between a finite high-temperature source and an infinite low-temperature reservoir is derived by using finite time thermodynamics based on a complex heat transfer law, including Newtonian heat transfer law, linear phenomenological heat transfer law, radiative heat transfer law, Dulong-Petit heat transfer law, generalized convective heat transfer law and generalized radiative heat transfer law, q ∝ (ΔT ⁿ ). In the engine model the only irreversibility of finite rate heat transfer is considered. The optimal relation between the power output and efficiency of the heat engine is also derived by using an equivalent temperature of the hot reservoir. The obtained results include those obtained in recent literature and can provide some theoretical guidance for the designs of practical engines. Supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of China (Grant No. 20041006) and the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China (Grant No. 200136)     

Quantum Thermalization and Thermal Entanglement in the Open Quantum Rabi Model

Quantum thermalization and thermal entanglement in the open quantum Rabi model (QRM), in which a two-level system and a single-mode bosonic field are coupled to either two individual heat baths or a common heat bath, are studied. By treating the QRM as an effective multilevel system and deriving global quantum master equations in the eigenstate representation of the QRM, the physical conditions for quantum thermalization of the QRM is studied. It is found that, in the individual heat-bath case, the QRM can only be thermalized when either the two heat baths have the same temperature or the QRM is only coupled to one of the two baths. In the common heat-bath case, differently, the QRM can always be thermalized. Thermal entanglement of the QRM in both the resonant- and non-resonant coupling cases is also studied. The logarithmic negativity for the thermal state of the QRM is obtained in a wide parameter space, ranging from the low- to high-temperature limits, and from the weak- to deep-strong-coupling regimes. This work paves the way toward the study of quantum effects in nonequilibrium ultrastrongly-coupled light-matter systems.     

Steady quantum coherence in non-equilibrium environment

We study the steady state of a three-level system in contact with a non-equilibrium environment, which is composed of two independent heat baths at different temperatures. We derive a master equation to describe the non-equilibrium process of the system. For the three level systems with two dipole transitions, i.e., the Λ$\Lambda$-type and V-type, we find that the interferences of two transitions in a non-equilibrium environment can give rise to non-vanishing steady quantum coherence, namely, there exist non-zero off-diagonal terms in the steady state density matrix (in the energy representation). Moreover, the non-vanishing off-diagonal terms increase with the temperature difference of the two heat baths. Such interferences of the transitions were usually omitted by secular approximation, for it was usually believed that they only take effect in short time behavior and do not affect the steady state. Here we show that, in non-equilibrium systems, such omission would lead to the neglect of the steady quantum coherence.     

Gapped two-body Hamiltonian for continuous-variable quantum computation

We introduce a family of Hamiltonian systems for measurement-based quantum computation with continuous variables. The Hamiltonians (i) are quadratic, and therefore two body, (ii) are of short range, (iii) are frustration-free, and (iv) possess a constant energy gap proportional to the squared inverse of the squeezing. Their ground states are the celebrated Gaussian graph states, which are universal resources for quantum computation in the limit of infinite squeezing. These Hamiltonians constitute the basic ingredient for the adiabatic preparation of graph states and thus open new venues for the physical realization of continuous-variable quantum computing beyond the standard optical approaches. We characterize the correlations in these systems at thermal equilibrium. In particular, we prove that the correlations across any multipartition are contained exactly in its boundary, automatically yielding a correlation area law.     

Steady bipartite coherence induced by non-equilibrium environment

We study the steady state of two coupled two-level atoms interacting with a non-equilibrium environment that consists of two heat baths at different temperatures. Specifically, we analyze four cases with respect to the configuration about the interactions between atoms and heat baths. Using secular approximation, the conventional master equation usually neglects steady-state coherence, even when the system is coupled with a non-equilibrium environment. When employing the master equation with no secular approximation, we find that the system coherence in our model, denoted by the off-diagonal terms in the reduced density matrix spanned by the eigenvectors of the system Hamiltonian, would survive after a long-time decoherence evolution. The absolute value of residual coherence in the system relies on different configurations of interaction channels between the system and the heat baths. We find that a large steady quantum coherence term can be achieved when the two atoms are resonant. The absolute value of quantum coherence decreases in the presence of additional atom-bath interaction channels. Our work sheds new light on the mechanism of steady-state coherence in microscopic quantum systems in non-equilibrium environments.