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arXiv:2106.12325 · Physical review. E

Quantum-parametric-oscillator heat engines in squeezed thermal baths: Foundational theoretical issues

Onat Arısoy, Jen-Tsung Hsiang, B. L. Hu

Published Jan 7, 2022• 8 citations

Abstract

In this paper we examine some foundational issues of a class of quantum engines where the system consists of a single quantum parametric oscillator, operating in an Otto cycle consisting of four stages of two alternating phases: the isentropic phase is detached from any bath (thus a closed system) where the natural frequency of the oscillator is changed from one value to another, and the isothermal phase where the system (now rendered open) is put in contact with one or two squeezed baths of different temperatures, whose nonequilibrium dynamics follows the Hu-Paz-Zhang (HPZ) master equation for quantum Brownian motion. The HPZ equation is an exact non-Markovian equation which preserves the positivity of the density operator and is valid for (1) all temperatures, (2) arbitrary spectral density of the bath, and (3) arbitrary coupling strength between the system and the bath. Taking advantage of these properties we examine some key foundational issues of theories of quantum open and squeezed systems for these two phases of the quantum Otto engines. This includes (1) the non-Markovian regimes for non-Ohmic, low-temperature baths, (2) what to expect in nonadiabatic frequency modulations, (3) strong system-bath coupling, as well as (4) the proper junction conditions between these two phases. Our aim here is not to present ways for attaining higher efficiency but to build a more solid theoretical foundation for quantum engines of continuous variables covering a broader range of parameter spaces that we hope are of use for exploring such possibilities.

DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.014108

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In this paper we examine some foundational issues of a class of quantum engines where the system consists of a single quantum parametric oscillator, operating in an Otto cycle consisting of four stages of two alternating phases: the isentropic phase is detached from any bath (thus a closed system) where the natural frequency of the oscillator is changed from one value to another, and the isothermal phase where the system (now rendered open) is put in contact with one or two squeezed baths of different temperatures, whose nonequilibrium dynamics follows the Hu-Paz-Zhang (HPZ) master equation for quantum Brownian motion. The HPZ equation is an exact non-Markovian equation which preserves the positivity of the density operator and is valid for (1) all temperatures, (2) arbitrary spectral density of the bath, and (3) arbitrary coupling strength between the system and the bath. Taking advantage of these properties we examine some key foundational issues of theories of quantum open and squeezed systems for these two phases of the quantum Otto engines. This includes (1) the non-Markovian regimes for non-Ohmic, low-temperature baths, (2) what to expect in nonadiabatic frequency modulations, (3) strong system-bath coupling, as well as (4) the proper junction conditions between these two phases. Our aim here is not to present ways for attaining higher efficiency but to build a more solid theoretical foundation for quantum engines of continuous variables covering a broader range of parameter spaces that we hope are of use for exploring such possibilities.

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The study of quantum thermodynamics is key to the development of quantum thermal machines. Here we investigate a system of parametrically driven quantum harmonic oscillators coupled to heat baths via a collision model. Using a thermodynamically consistent local master equation, we derive the heat flows and work power of the working device which can operate as an engine or a refrigerator and analyse their instantaneous and averages efficiencies and coefficients of performance. Studying the regimes of both slow and fast driving of the system, we find that an increased driving frequency can lead to a change of functioning to an accelerator or a heater. Finally, we investigate the effect of squeezing one of the thermal baths: it leads to an apparent higher efficiency compared to the corresponding Carnot value of an equilibrium bath with the same temperature and to sustained entanglement between the working substance oscillators in the limit cycle.

We discuss a model of a closed quantum evolution of two qubits where the joint Hamiltonian is so chosen such that one of the qubits acts as a bath and thermalizes the other qubit which is acting as the system. The corresponding exact master equation for the system is derived. Interestingly, for a specific choice of parameters the master equation takes the Gorini-Kossakowski-Lindblad-Sudarshan (GKLS) form, with constant coefficients representing pumping and damping of a single qubit system. Based on this model we construct an Otto cycle connected to a single qubit bath and study its thermodynamic properties. Our analysis goes beyond the conventional weak coupling scenario and illustrates the effects of finite baths, including non-Markovianity. We find closed form expressions for efficiency (coefficient of performance), power (cooling power) for the heat engine regime (refrigerator regime), and for different modifications of the joint Hamiltonian.

Employing a recently developed approach to dynamically emergent quantum thermodynamics, we revisit the thermodynamic behavior of the quantum Otto cycle with a focus on memory effects and strong system-bath couplings. Our investigation is based on an exact treatment of non-Markovianity by means of an exact quantum master equation, modeling the dynamics through the Fano-Anderson model featuring a peaked environmental spectral density. By comparing the results to the standard Markovian case, we find that non-Markovian baths can induce work transfer to the system, and identify specific parameter regions which lead to enhanced work output and efficiency of the cycle. In particular, we demonstrate that these improvements arise when the cycle operates in a frequency interval which contains the peak of the spectral density. This can be understood from an analysis of the renormalized frequencies emerging through the system-bath couplings. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

We discuss whether, and under which conditions, it is possible to realize a heat engine simply by dynamically modulating the couplings between the quantum working medium and thermal reservoirs. For that purpose, we consider the paradigmatic model of a quantum harmonic oscillator, exposed to a minimal modulation, that is, a monochromatic driving of the coupling to only one of the thermal baths. We demonstrate, at any order in the system/bath coupling strength, that in this setup non-Markovianity of the bath is a necessary condition to obtain a heat engine. In addition, we identify suitable structured environments for the engine to approach the ideal Carnot efficiency. Our results open up new possibilities for the use of non-Markovian open quantum systems for the construction and optimization of quantum thermal machines.