Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

International Journal of Modern Physics B

The quantum Carnot-like heat engine: The level degenerate case

Yang Yang Yuan, Qiang Gu

Published Jan 22, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

The two-level quantum heat engines have been studied extensively. Before that, the optimization of most heat engines was mainly concentrated in non-degenerate cases. We consider the level degeneracy, then calculate the maximum operation time and the irreversible dissipation coefficient of the two-level system under the scheme of linear tuned levels. In the high-temperature limit, we find that the level degeneracy affects the maximum power of the two-level heat engine. Especially in the case of the same degeneracy of the ground state and the excited state, the influence is the greatest. In addition, we also show that the degeneracy does not affect the efficiency at maximum power and the consistent relation of the two-level Carnot-like heat engine.

DOI
10.1142/s0217979224504083

Related papers

Quantum heat engine with identical particles and level degeneracy

H. W. Zhang, X. L. Huang, S. L. Wu

In this paper, the effects of identical particles and energy-level degeneracy on the work output of the quantum Otto and Stirling heat engines are studied. For quantum Otto heat engine, we find the effects of degeneracy in the ground state and in the excited state are same in the high-temperature limitation while the work done by a system with n-fold degeneracy in the excited state (ground state) is n ([Formula: see text]) times the one without degeneracy in the single-particle case. Moreover, the effects of the identical two-level systems with degeneracy in the ground state or excited state as working substances are discussed. The results of such problem for the Stirling and Carnot heat engines are similar. By analytical derivations in two limit conditions, we conclude that for the cycles which are composed of the quantum adiabatic process, isochoric process and isothermal process have similar results.

International Journal of Modern Physics B•Apr 22, 2023•2 citations

Efficiency at maximum power of a heat engine working with a two-level atomic system

Rui Wang, Jianhui Wang, Jizhou He +1 more

We consider the finite-time operation of a quantum heat engine whose working substance is composed of a two-level atomic system. The engine cycle, consisting of two quantum adiabatic and two quantum isochoric (constant-frequency) processes and working between two heat reservoirs at temperatures ${T}_{h}$ and ${T}_{c}$$(<$${T}_{h})$, is a quantum version of the classical Otto cycle. By optimizing the power output with respect to two frequencies, we obtain the efficiency at maximum power output (EMP) and analyze numerically the effects of the times taken for two adiabatic and two isochoric processes on the EMP. In the absence of internally dissipative friction, we find that the EMP is bounded from the upper side by a function of the Carnot efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}$, ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{+}={\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}^{2}/[{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}\ensuremath{-}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C})\mathrm{ln}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C})]$, with ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}=1\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}$. This analytic expression is confirmed by our exact numerical result and is identical to the one derived in an engine model based on a mesoscopic or macroscopic system. If the internal friction is included, we find that the EMP decreases as the friction coefficient increases.

Physical Review E•Apr 23, 2013•78 citations

Finite-time thermodynamic process of a two-level quantum heat engine

Yigermal Bassie, Tibebe Birhanu, Yoseph Abebe +1 more

In this paper, we consider a model of two-level quantum heat engine to investigate the explicit analytic expression for the thermodynamics quantities in different condition under the finite-time operation. In this engine, the working substance is composed of a spin-half particles immersed in a magnetic field. The finite-time thermodynamic processes consisting of two quantum adiabatic and two quantum isothermal processes. This processes working between two heat reservoirs with an inverse temperatures $β_{1}$ and $β_{2}$ ($<β_{1}$). In this processes, we obtain the work, heat, power and efficiency at maximum power output of the model. Our result of the efficiency at maximum power agree with the universal value in the first order of Carnot efficiency.

arXiv:2207.00867•Jul 2, 2022•1 citation

Efficiency at maximum power output of quantum heat engines under finite-time operation

Jianhui Wang, Jizhou He, Zhaoqi Wu

We study the efficiency at maximum power, ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$, of irreversible quantum Carnot engines (QCEs) that perform finite-time cycles between a hot and a cold reservoir at temperatures ${T}_{h}$ and ${T}_{c}$, respectively. For QCEs in the reversible limit (long cycle period, zero dissipation), ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$ becomes identical to the Carnot efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}=1\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}$. For QCE cycles in which nonadiabatic dissipation and the time spent on two adiabats are included, the efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$ at maximum power output is bounded from above by ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}/(2\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}})$ and from below by ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}/2$. In the case of symmetric dissipation, the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{\mathit{CA}}}=1\ensuremath{-}\sqrt{{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}}$ is recovered under the condition that the time allocation between the adiabats and the contact time with the reservoir satisfy a certain relation.

arXiv:1111.5077•Physical Review E•Mar 29, 2012•66 citations

Thermodynamics of quantum heat engines

Himangshu Prabal Goswami, Upendra Harbola

We consider a recently proposed four-level quantum heat engine (QHE) model to analyze the role of quantum coherences in determining the thermodynamic properties of the engine, such as flux, output power, and efficiency. A quantitative analysis of the relative effects of the coherences induced by the two thermal baths is brought out. By taking account of the dissipation in the cavity mode, we define useful work obtained from the QHE and present some analytical results for the optimal values of relative coherences that maximizes flux (hence output power) through the engine. We also analyze the role of quantum effects in inducing population inversion (lasing) between the states coupled to the cavity mode. The universal behavior of the efficiency at maximum power ($\mathrm{EMP}$) is examined. In accordance with earlier theoretical predictions, to leading order, we find that $\mathrm{EMP}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}/2$, where ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}$ is Carnot efficiency. However, the next higher order coefficient is system dependent and hence nonuniversal.

Physical Review A•Jul 26, 2013•75 citations

Finite-power performance of quantum heat engines in linear response

Qin Liu, Jizhou He, Yong-li Ma +1 more

We investigate the finite-power performance of quantum heat engines working in the linear response regime where the temperature gradient is small. The engine cycles with working substances of ideal harmonic systems consist of two heat transfer and two adiabatic processes, such as the Carnot cycle, Otto cycle, and Brayton cycle. By analyzing the optimal protocol under maximum power we derive the explicitly analytic expression for the irreversible entropy production, which becomes the low dissipation form in the long duration limit. Assuming the engine to be endoreversible, we derive the universal expression for the efficiency at maximum power, which agrees well with that obtained from the phenomenological heat transfer laws holding in the classical thermodynamics. Through appropriate identification of the thermodynamic fluxes and forces that a linear relation connects, we find that the quantum engines under consideration are tightly coupled, and the universality of efficiency at maximum power is confirmed at the linear order in the temperature gradient.

Physical review. E•Jul 8, 2019•10 citations
The two-level quantum heat engines have been studied extensively. Before that, the optimization of most heat engines was mainly concentrated in non-degenerate cases. We consider the level degeneracy, then calculate the maximum operation time and the irreversible dissipation coefficient of the two-level system under the scheme of linear tuned levels. In the high-temperature limit, we find that the level degeneracy affects the maximum power of the two-level heat engine. Especially in the case of the same degeneracy of the ground state and the excited state, the influence is the greatest. In addition, we also show that the degeneracy does not affect the efficiency at maximum power and the consistent relation of the two-level Carnot-like heat engine.
In this paper, the effects of identical particles and energy-level degeneracy on the work output of the quantum Otto and Stirling heat engines are studied. For quantum Otto heat engine, we find the effects of degeneracy in the ground state and in the excited state are same in the high-temperature limitation while the work done by a system with n-fold degeneracy in the excited state (ground state) is n ([Formula: see text]) times the one without degeneracy in the single-particle case. Moreover, the effects of the identical two-level systems with degeneracy in the ground state or excited state as working substances are discussed. The results of such problem for the Stirling and Carnot heat engines are similar. By analytical derivations in two limit conditions, we conclude that for the cycles which are composed of the quantum adiabatic process, isochoric process and isothermal process have similar results.
We consider the finite-time operation of a quantum heat engine whose working substance is composed of a two-level atomic system. The engine cycle, consisting of two quantum adiabatic and two quantum isochoric (constant-frequency) processes and working between two heat reservoirs at temperatures Th{T}_{h}Th​ and Tc{T}_{c}Tc​(<(<(<Th){T}_{h})Th​), is a quantum version of the classical Otto cycle. By optimizing the power output with respect to two frequencies, we obtain the efficiency at maximum power output (EMP) and analyze numerically the effects of the times taken for two adiabatic and two isochoric processes on the EMP. In the absence of internally dissipative friction, we find that the EMP is bounded from the upper side by a function of the Carnot efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}$, ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{+}={\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}^{2}/[{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}\ensuremath{-}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C})\mathrm{ln}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C})]$, with ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{C}=1\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}$. This analytic expression is confirmed by our exact numerical result and is identical to the one derived in an engine model based on a mesoscopic or macroscopic system. If the internal friction is included, we find that the EMP decreases as the friction coefficient increases.
In this paper, we consider a model of two-level quantum heat engine to investigate the explicit analytic expression for the thermodynamics quantities in different condition under the finite-time operation. In this engine, the working substance is composed of a spin-half particles immersed in a magnetic field. The finite-time thermodynamic processes consisting of two quantum adiabatic and two quantum isothermal processes. This processes working between two heat reservoirs with an inverse temperatures β1β_{1}β1​ and β2β_{2}β2​ (<β1<β_{1}<β1​). In this processes, we obtain the work, heat, power and efficiency at maximum power output of the model. Our result of the efficiency at maximum power agree with the universal value in the first order of Carnot efficiency.
We study the efficiency at maximum power, ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$, of irreversible quantum Carnot engines (QCEs) that perform finite-time cycles between a hot and a cold reservoir at temperatures Th{T}_{h}Th​ and Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, respectively. For QCEs in the reversible limit (long cycle period, zero dissipation), ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$ becomes identical to the Carnot efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}=1\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}$. For QCE cycles in which nonadiabatic dissipation and the time spent on two adiabats are included, the efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{m}$ at maximum power output is bounded from above by ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}/(2\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}})$ and from below by ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{C}}/2$. In the case of symmetric dissipation, the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{{}_{\mathit{CA}}}=1\ensuremath{-}\sqrt{{T}_{c}/{T}_{h}}$ is recovered under the condition that the time allocation between the adiabats and the contact time with the reservoir satisfy a certain relation.
We consider a recently proposed four-level quantum heat engine (QHE) model to analyze the role of quantum coherences in determining the thermodynamic properties of the engine, such as flux, output power, and efficiency. A quantitative analysis of the relative effects of the coherences induced by the two thermal baths is brought out. By taking account of the dissipation in the cavity mode, we define useful work obtained from the QHE and present some analytical results for the optimal values of relative coherences that maximizes flux (hence output power) through the engine. We also analyze the role of quantum effects in inducing population inversion (lasing) between the states coupled to the cavity mode. The universal behavior of the efficiency at maximum power (EMP\mathrm{EMP}EMP) is examined. In accordance with earlier theoretical predictions, to leading order, we find that $\mathrm{EMP}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}/2$, where ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}$ is Carnot efficiency. However, the next higher order coefficient is system dependent and hence nonuniversal.
We investigate the finite-power performance of quantum heat engines working in the linear response regime where the temperature gradient is small. The engine cycles with working substances of ideal harmonic systems consist of two heat transfer and two adiabatic processes, such as the Carnot cycle, Otto cycle, and Brayton cycle. By analyzing the optimal protocol under maximum power we derive the explicitly analytic expression for the irreversible entropy production, which becomes the low dissipation form in the long duration limit. Assuming the engine to be endoreversible, we derive the universal expression for the efficiency at maximum power, which agrees well with that obtained from the phenomenological heat transfer laws holding in the classical thermodynamics. Through appropriate identification of the thermodynamic fluxes and forces that a linear relation connects, we find that the quantum engines under consideration are tightly coupled, and the universality of efficiency at maximum power is confirmed at the linear order in the temperature gradient.