Thermodynamic Performance Characteristics of a Brownian MicroscopicHeat Engine Driven by Discrete and Periodic Temperature Field

A Brownian microscopic heat engine with a particle hopping on a one-dimensional lattice driven by a discrete and periodic temperature field in a periodic sawtooth potential is investigated. In order to clarify the underlying physical pictures of the heat engine, the heat flow via the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the particles are considered simultaneously. Based on describing the jumps among the three states, the expressions of theefficiency and power output of the heat engine are derived analytically. The general performance characteristic curves are plotted by numerical calculation. It is found that the power output-efficiency curve is a loop-shaped one, which is similar to one for a real irreversible heat engine. The influence of the ratioof the temperature of the hot and cold reservoirs and the sawtooth potential on the maximum efficiency and power output is analyzed forsome given parameters. When the heat flows via the kinetic energy isneglected, the power output-efficiency curve is an open-shaped one,which is similar to one for an endroeversible heat engine.