Abstract
We study a driven harmonic oscillator operating an Otto cycle by strongly interacting with two thermal baths of finite size. Using the tools of Gaussian quantum mechanics, we directly simulate the dynamics of the engine as a whole, without the need to make any approximations. This allows us to understand the non-equilibrium thermodynamics of the engine not only from the perspective of the working medium, but also as it is seen from the thermal baths’ standpoint. For sufficiently large baths, our engine is capable of running a number of perfect cycles, delivering finite power while operating very close to maximal efficiency. Thereafter, having traversed the baths, the perturbations created by the interaction abruptly deteriorate the engine’s performance. We additionally study the correlations generated in the system, and, in particular, we find a direct connection between the build up of bath–bath correlations and the degradation of the engine’s performance over the course of many cycles.
Highlights
The second law of thermodynamics prohibits extracting mechanical work from systems in thermal equilibrium
This is the traditional setup for a heat engine: a working medium (WM) reciprocating between two thermal baths, pumps heat from the hotter bath to the colder one and outputs work as a result
Given that the total Hamiltonian is quadratic at any moment of time, the dynamics of the system can be described within the formalism of Gaussian quantum mechanics (GQM) [45]
Summary
Any further distribution of We study a driven harmonic oscillator operating an Otto cycle by strongly interacting with two this work must maintain thermal baths of finite size. Using the tools of Gaussian quantum mechanics, we directly simulate the attribution to the author(s) and the title of dynamics of the engine as a whole, without the need to make any approximations. This allows us to the work, journal citation and DOI. Thereafter, having traversed the baths, the perturbations created by the interaction abruptly deteriorate the engine’s performance. Bath correlations and the degradation of the engine’s performance over the course of many cycles
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