We consider a quantum Otto refrigerator cycle of a time-dependent harmonic oscillator. We investigate the coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit for adiabatic and nonadiabatic frequency modulations. We obtain analytical expressions for the optimal performance both in the high-temperature (classical) regime and in the low-temperature (quantum) limit. We moreover analyze the breakdown of the cooling cycle for strongly nonadiabatic driving protocols and derive analytical estimates for the minimal driving time allowed for cooling.
We consider a quantum Otto refrigerator cycle of a time-dependent harmonic oscillator. We investigate the coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit for adiabatic and nonadiabatic frequency modulations. We obtain analytical expressions for the optimal performance both in the high-temperature (classical) regime and in the low-temperature (quantum) limit. We moreover analyze the breakdown of the cooling cycle for strongly nonadiabatic driving protocols and derive analytical estimates for the minimal driving time allowed for cooling.
Abstract We investigate the optimal performance of the quantum Otto engine and refrigeration cycles of a time-dependent harmonic oscillator under a trade-off figure of merit for both adiabatic and nonadiabatic (sudden-switch) frequency modulations. For heat engines (refrigerators), the chosen trade-off figure of merit is an objective function defined by the product of efficiency (coefficient of performance) and work output (cooling load), thus representing a compromise between them. We obtain analytical expressions for the efficiency and coefficient of performance of the harmonic Otto cycle for the optimal performance of the thermal machine in various operational regimes. Particularly, in the sudden-switch regime, we discuss the implications of the nonadiabatic driving on the performance of the thermal machine under consideration and obtain analytic expressions for the maximum achievable efficiency and coefficient of performance of the harmonic Otto thermal machine. Particularly, we show that the quantum harmonic Otto cycle driven by sudden-switch protocol cannot work as a heat engine or refrigerator in the low-temperature limit. Finally, we show that in the high-temperature limit, the frictional effects give rise to a richer structure of the phase diagram of the harmonic Otto cycle. We identify the parametric regime for the operation of the Otto cycle as a heat engine, refrigerator, accelerator, and heater.
We investigate quantum Otto engine and refrigeration cycles of a time-dependent harmonic oscillator operating under the conditions of maximum Ω function, a trade-off objective function which represents a compromise between energy benefits and losses for a specific job, for both adiabatic and nonadiabatic (sudden) frequency modulations. We derive analytical expressions for the efficiency and coefficient of performance of the Otto cycle. For the case of adiabatic driving, we point out that in the low-temperature regime, the harmonic Otto engine (refrigerator) can be mapped to Feynman's ratchet and pawl model which is a steady-state classical heat engine. For the sudden switch of frequencies, we obtain loop-like behavior of the efficiency-work curve, which is characteristic of irreversible heat engines. Finally, we discuss the behavior of cooling power at maximum Ω function.
We investigate the performance of a quantum Otto refrigerator operating in finite time and exploiting local counterdiabatic techniques. We evaluate its coefficient of performance and cooling power when the working medium consists of a quantum harmonic oscillator with a time-dependent frequency. We find that the quantum refrigerator outperforms its conventional counterpart, except for very short cycle times, even when the driving cost of the local counterdiabatic driving is included. We moreover derive upper bounds on the performance of the thermal machine based on quantum speed limits and show that they are tighter than the second law of thermodynamics.
We analyze the performance of a quantum Otto cycle, employing a time-dependent harmonic oscillator as the working fluid undergoing sudden expansion and compression strokes during the adiabatic stages, coupled to a squeezed reservoir. First, we show that the maximum efficiency that our engine can achieve is 1/2 only, which is in contrast with earlier studies claiming unit efficiency under the effect of a squeezed reservoir. Then, in the high-temperature limit, we obtain analytic expressions for the upper bound on the efficiency as well as on the coefficient of performance of the Otto cycle. The obtained bounds are independent of the parameters of the system and depend on the reservoir parameters only. Additionally, with a hot squeezed thermal bath, we obtain an analytic expression for the efficiency at maximum work which satisfies the derived upper bound. Further, in the presence of squeezing in the cold reservoir, we specify an operational regime for the Otto refrigerator otherwise forbidden in the standard case. Finally, we find the cost of creating a squeezed state from the thermal state and show that in order to harvest the benefits of squeezing, it is sufficient to squeeze only one mode of the reservoir in resonance with the transition frequency of the working fluid. Further, we show that when the cost of squeezing is included in the definition of the operational efficiency of the engine, the advantages of squeezing fade away. Still, being purely quantum mechanical fuel in nature, squeezed reservoirs are beneficial in their own way by providing us with more compact energy storage medium or offering effectively high-temperature baths without being actually too hot.
The cycle model of a quantum refrigeration cycle working with many non-interacting harmonic oscillators and consisting of two isothermal and two constant-frequency processes is established. Based on the quantum master equation and semi-group approach, the general performance of the cycle is investigated. Expressions for some important performance parameters, such as the coefficient of performance, cooling rate, power input, and rate of the entropy production, are derived. Several interesting cases are discussed and, especially, the optimal performance of the cycle at high temperatures is discussed in detail. Some important characteristic curves of the cycle, such as the cooling rate versus coefficient of performance curves, the power input versus coefficient of performance curves, the cooling rate versus power input curves, and so on, are presented. The maximum cooling rate and the corresponding coefficient of performance are calculated. Other optimal performances are also analysed. The results obtained here are compared with those of an Ericsson or Stirling refrigeration cycle using an ideal gas as the working substance. Finally, the optimal performance of a harmonic quantum Carnot refrigeration cycle at high temperatures is derived easily.
An irreversible model of a quantum refrigeration cycle working with many noninteracting harmonic oscillators is established. The refrigeration cycle consists of two adiabatic and two constant-frequency processes. The general performance characteristics of the cycle are investigated, based on the quantum master equation and the semigroup approach. The expressions for several important performance parameters such as the coefficient of performance, cooling rate, power input, and rate of entropy production are derived. By using numerical solutions, the cooling rate of the refrigeration cycle subject to finite cycle duration is optimized. The maximum cooling rate and the corresponding parameters are calculated numerically. The optimal region of the coefficient of performance and the optimal ranges of temperatures of the working substance and times spent on the two constant-frequency processes are determined. Moreover, the optimal performance of the cycle in the high-temperature limit is compared with that of a classical Brayton refrigerator working with an ideal gas. The results obtained here show that in the high-temperature limit a harmonic quantum Brayton cycle may be equivalent to a classical Brayton cycle.