Efficiency of a cyclic quantum heat engine with finite-size baths

Mohammady, M.H. and Romito, A. (2019) Efficiency of a cyclic quantum heat engine with finite-size baths. Physical Review E, 100 (1): 012122. ISSN 1539-3755

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Abstract

In this paper we investigate the relationship between the efficiency of a cyclic quantum heat engine with the Hilbert space dimension of the thermal baths. By means of a general inequality, we show that the Carnot efficiency can be obtained only when both the hot and cold baths are infinitely large. By further introducing a specific model where the baths are constituted of ensembles of finite-dimensional particles, we further demonstrate the relationship between the engine's power and efficiency, with the dimension of the working substance and the bath particles.