dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaThe Quantum Four Stroke Heat Engine: Thermodynamic Observables in a Model with Intrinsic Friction
| Authors | Tova Feldmann, Ronnie Kosloff |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0303046 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0303046 |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevE.68.016101 |
Abstract
The fundamentals of a quantum heat engine are derived from first principles. The study is based on the equation of motion of a minimum set of operators which is then used to define the state of the system. The relation between the quantum framework and thermodynamical observables is examined. A four stroke heat engine model with a coupled two-level-system as a working fluid is used to explore the fundamental relations. In the model used, the internal Hamiltonian does not commute with the external control field which defines the two adiabatic branches. Heat is transferred to the working fluid by coupling to hot and cold reservoirs under constant field values. Explicit quantum equation of motion for the relevant observables are derived on all branches. The dynamics on the heat transfer constant field branches is solved in closed form. On the adiabats, a general numerical solution is used and compared with a particular analytic solution. These solutions are combined to construct the cycle of operation. The engine is then analyzed in terms of frequency-entropy and entropy-temperature graphs. The irreversible nature of the engine is the result of finite heat transfer rates and friction-like behavior due to noncommutability of the internal and external Hamiltonian.
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"abstract": "The fundamentals of a quantum heat engine are derived from first principles.\nThe study is based on the equation of motion of a minimum set of operators\nwhich is then used to define the state of the system. The relation between the\nquantum framework and thermodynamical observables is examined. A four stroke\nheat engine model with a coupled two-level-system as a working fluid is used to\nexplore the fundamental relations. In the model used, the internal Hamiltonian\ndoes not commute with the external control field which defines the two\nadiabatic branches. Heat is transferred to the working fluid by coupling to hot\nand cold reservoirs under constant field values. Explicit quantum equation of\nmotion for the relevant observables are derived on all branches. The dynamics\non the heat transfer constant field branches is solved in closed form. On the\nadiabats, a general numerical solution is used and compared with a particular\nanalytic solution. These solutions are combined to construct the cycle of\noperation. The engine is then analyzed in terms of frequency-entropy and\nentropy-temperature graphs. The irreversible nature of the engine is the result\nof finite heat transfer rates and friction-like behavior due to\nnoncommutability of the internal and external Hamiltonian.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0303046",
"authors": [
"Tova Feldmann",
"Ronnie Kosloff"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1103/PhysRevE.68.016101",
"title": "The Quantum Four Stroke Heat Engine: Thermodynamic Observables in a Model with Intrinsic Friction",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0303046"
},
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