The concept of inner friction, by which a quantum heat engine is unable to follow adiabatically itsstrokes and thus dissipates useful energy, is illustrated in an exact physical model where the workingsubstance consists of an ensemble of misaligned spins interacting with a magnetic field and performingthe Otto cycle. The effect of this static disorder under a finite-time cycle gives a new perspective of theconcept of inner friction under realistic settings.Weinvestigate the efficiency and power of this engineand relate its performance to the amount of friction from misalignment and to the temperaturedifference between heat baths. Finally we propose an alternative experimental implementation of thecycle where the spin is encoded in the degree of polarization of photons.
Quantum Otto cycle with inner friction: finite-time and disorder effects
Lo Gullo N;PLASTINA, Francesco;
2015-01-01
Abstract
The concept of inner friction, by which a quantum heat engine is unable to follow adiabatically itsstrokes and thus dissipates useful energy, is illustrated in an exact physical model where the workingsubstance consists of an ensemble of misaligned spins interacting with a magnetic field and performingthe Otto cycle. The effect of this static disorder under a finite-time cycle gives a new perspective of theconcept of inner friction under realistic settings.Weinvestigate the efficiency and power of this engineand relate its performance to the amount of friction from misalignment and to the temperaturedifference between heat baths. Finally we propose an alternative experimental implementation of thecycle where the spin is encoded in the degree of polarization of photons.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
