A thermodynamic probe of the topological phase transition in epitaxial graphene based Floquet topological insulator

Abstract

One can use light to tune certain materials from a trivial to a topological phase. A prime example of such materials, classified as Floquet topological insulators (FTIs), is epitaxial graphene. In this paper, we probe the topological phase transition of a FTI via the efficiency and work output of quantum Otto and quantum Stirling heat engines. A maximum/minimum in the efficiency or work output invariably signals the phase transition point. Furthermore, both engines’ work output and efficiency are markedly robust against the polarization direction of light.