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arXiv:2205.01650 · Physical Review Research

Dynamical heat engines with non-Markovian reservoirs

Fabio Cavaliere, Matteo Carrega, G. De Filippis, V. Cataudella, Giuliano Benenti, Maura Sassetti

Published Sep 23, 2022• 25 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.4.033233

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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.
The study of quantum thermodynamics is key to the development of quantum thermal machines. In contrast to most of the previous proposals based on discrete strokes, here we consider a working substance that is permanently coupled to two or more baths at different temperatures and continuously driven. To this end, we investigate 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 power of the working device, which can operate as an engine, refrigerator, or accelerator, and analyze the instantaneous and average 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 a dissipator. 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.
Abstract We study the performance of a quantum Otto cycle using a harmonic work medium and undergoing collisional dynamics with finite-size reservoirs. We span the dynamical regimes of the work strokes from strongly non-adiabatic to quasi-static conditions, and address the effects that non-Markovianity of the open-system dynamics of the work medium can have on the efficiency of the thermal machine. While such efficiency never surpasses the classical upper bound valid for finite-time stochastic engines, the behaviour of the engine shows clear-cut effects induced by both the finiteness of the evolution time, and the memory-bearing character of the system-environment evolution.
In the present study we have developed an alternative formulation for the quantum stochastic thermodynamics based on the c-number Langevin equation for the system-reservoir model. This is analogous to the classical one. Here we have considered both Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics (NMD). Consideration of the NMD is an important issue at the current state of the stochastic thermodynamics. Applying the present formalism, we have carried out a comparative study on the heat absorbed and the change of entropy with time for a linear quantum system and its classical analog for both Markovian and NMD. Here the strength of the thermal noise and its correlation time for the respective cases are the leading quantities to explain any distinguishable feature which may appear with the equilibration kinetics. For another application, we have proposed a formulation with classical look for a quantum stochastic heat engine. Using it we have presented a comparative study on the efficiency and its value at maximum power for a quantum stochastic heat engine and its classical analog. The engines are Carnot like which are coupled with their respective Markovian thermal baths. Here also the noise strength as well as the diffusion constant are the leading quantities to explain any noticeable feature.
A procedure to find optimal regimes for quantum thermal engines (QTMs) is described and demonstrated. The QTMs are modelled as the periodically-driven non-equilibrium steady states of open quantum systems, whose dynamics is approximated in this work with Markovian master equations. The action of the external agent and the couplings to the heat reservoirs can be modulated with control functions, and it is the time-dependent shape of these control functions the object of optimisation. Those functions can be freely parameterised, which permits to constrain the solutions according to experimental or physical requirements. • Description of a procedure to find optimal regimes for quantum thermal engines. • The engines are modelled as the periodically-driven non-equilibrium steady states of open quantum systems. • The action of the external agent and the couplings to the heat reservoirs can be modulated with control functions. • Those functions can be freely parameterised to constrain the solutions according to experimental requirements.
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.
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.