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Physica Scripta

A special entangled quantum heat engine based on the two-qubit Heisenberg XX model

X. L. Huang, Huan Xu, Xiangyu Niu, Yanchao Fu

Published Nov 21, 2013• 58 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We construct a special four-level entangled quantum Otto heat engine based on the two-qubit Heisenberg XX model, in which we assume that all the energy gaps are changed in the same ratio in the two quantum adiabatic processes. Hence during the whole cycle, the relative coupling constant κ = J / B is fixed, where J and B are the coupling constant and the external magnetic field, respectively. The dependence of the basic thermodynamical quantities on the two entanglements at the end of two quantum isochoric processes with different relative coupling constants κ is studied. Our results show that in the weak coupling region, i.e. κ < 1, the heat engine can be operated in both areas where c 1 < c 2 and c 1 > c 2 , whereas when κ ⩾ 1, it only operates under the condition c 1 < c 2 . Here c 1 and c 2 are entanglements of the working substance when it comes into contact with hot and cold baths, respectively. Moreover, we find that the maximal work output for fixed κ increases with the relative coupling constant.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/88/06/065008

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We construct a special four-level entangled quantum Otto heat engine based on the two-qubit Heisenberg XX model, in which we assume that all the energy gaps are changed in the same ratio in the two quantum adiabatic processes. Hence during the whole cycle, the relative coupling constant κ = J / B is fixed, where J and B are the coupling constant and the external magnetic field, respectively. The dependence of the basic thermodynamical quantities on the two entanglements at the end of two quantum isochoric processes with different relative coupling constants κ is studied. Our results show that in the weak coupling region, i.e. κ < 1, the heat engine can be operated in both areas where c 1 < c 2 and c 1 > c 2 , whereas when κ ⩾ 1, it only operates under the condition c 1 < c 2 . Here c 1 and c 2 are entanglements of the working substance when it comes into contact with hot and cold baths, respectively. Moreover, we find that the maximal work output for fixed κ increases with the relative coupling constant.
Abstract This paper proposes a theoretical model for a heat engine operating on the Otto cycle, employing a two-qubit Heisenberg chain as its working substance. This system is subjected to an external, time-dependent homogeneous magnetic field and a symmetric cross-spin interaction. The interaction is configured to occur along two distinct orientations, contingent upon the direction of Zeeman energy and symmetric interaction: either exclusively along the X -direction or exclusively along the Z -direction. Furthermore, the thermal reservoirs integral to the Otto engine are considered to engage with the working substance via two discrete modes: a localized interaction or a collective interaction. The two qubits exhibit weak coupling to a non-equilibrium thermal environment during the isochoric heating and cooling strokes, thereby validating the application of a Markovian model as a suitable approximation for describing the time evolution of the working substance. This study investigates the influence of various system parameters on the thermodynamic quantities and the resultant power output. A principal finding is that refrigeration functionality is the predominant operational characteristic when the system engages in collective interaction with the reservoirs. Conversely, localized interactions facilitate dual operational modes, with the sign of the Zeeman energy determining the function as either a refrigerator or a heat engine. Significantly, positive power output is achieved in the engine regime, and we find that the choice of interaction axis acts as a powerful amplification mechanism for the thermodynamic output, while the system-environment coupling scheme proves to be the most decisive factor in determining the machine’s fundamental purpose.
Based on the isotropic two spin-1/2 qubits Heisenberg model with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in a constant external magnetic field, we have constructed the entangled quantum Otto engine. Expressions for the basic thermodynamic quantities, i.e. the amount of heat exchange, the net work output and the efficiency, are derived. The influence of thermal entanglement on these basic thermodynamic quantities is investigated. Moreover, some intriguing features and their qualitative explanations in zero and finite magnetic field are given. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics is confirmed in the system. The results obtained here have general significance and will be useful in increasing understanding of the performance of an entangled quantum engine.
We study a quantum Otto heat engine whose working substance is an anisotropic two-qubit Heisenberg XYZ model. Independent local magnetic fields are used to control each spin individually. The influence of the longitudinal coupling, anisotropy, transverse coupling, and local fields on the net work output and efficiency is systematically examined. Reducing the longitudinal coupling is found to markedly improve both the maximum work and the peak efficiency. The engine performance reaches an optimum at a particular value of the anisotropy parameter. A local work analysis clarifies how work is produced during the cycle. Because of the asymmetric local fields and the intrinsic spin-spin interaction, the two qubits play markedly different thermodynamic roles; the interaction term itself contributes crucially to the total work. We further analyze the variation of quantum entanglement, quantified by concurrence, along the cycle. The results indicate that a pronounced change in entanglement between the hot and cold isomagnetic strokes is closely correlated with the efficiency enhancement. This work offers new insight into the operating principles and control of quantum Otto heat engines.
We propose a four-level quantum heat engine in an Otto cycle with a working substance of two spins subject to an external magnetic field and coupled to each other by a one-axis twisting spin squeezing nonlinear interaction. We calculate the positive work and the efficiency of the engine for different parameter regimes. In particular, we investigate the effects of quantum correlations at the end of the two isochoric processes of the Otto cycle, as measured by the entanglement of formation and quantum discord, on the work extraction and efficiency. The regimes where the quantum correlations could enhance the efficiency and work extraction are characterized.
Based on a two-qubit one-dimensional isotropic spin-1∕21∕21∕2 Heisenberg spin chain in a constant external magnetic field, we construct a four-level entangled quantum heat engine (QHE) and investigate the influence of entanglement between two qubits on basic thermodynamic quantities, i.e., the heat transferred and the work done in a cycle, and the efficiency of the QHE. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics is confirmed in the entangled system. We also find several interesting features of the variation of the efficiency with the entanglement of two different thermal equilibrium states in a work cycle in zero and finite magnetic field. An abrupt transition of efficiency is found in zero field.
The four-level entangled quantum heat engine (QHE) is analyzed in the various Heisenberg models for a two-qubit. The QHE is examined for the XX, XXX and XXZ Heisenberg models by introducing a parameter x which controls the strength of the exchange parameter Jz = xJ along the z-axis with respect to the ones along the x- and y-axes, i.e. Jx = Jy = J, respectively. It is assumed that the two-qubit is entangled and in contact with two heat reservoirs at different temperatures and under the effect of a constant magnetic field. The concurrences (C) are used as a measure of entanglement and then the expressions for the amount of heat transferred, the work performed and the efficiency of the QHE are derived. The contour, i.e. the isoline maps, and some two-dimensional plots of the above mentioned thermodynamic quantities are calculated and some interesting features are found.