Christian Van den Broeck

Efficiency at Maximum Power of Low-Dissipation Carnot Engines

We study the efficiency at maximum power, η*, of engines performing finite-time Carnot cycles between a hot and a cold reservoir at temperatures Th and Tc, respectively. For engines reaching Carnot efficiency ηC=1-Tc/Th in the reversible limit (long cycle time, zero dissipation), we find in the limit of low dissipation that η* is bounded from above by ηC/(2-ηC) and from below by ηC/2. These bounds are reached when the ratio of the dissipation during the cold and hot isothermal phases tend, respectively, to zero or infinity. For symmetric dissipation (ratio one) the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency ηCA=1-√Tc/Th] is recovered.

Three faces of the second law. I. Master equation formulation

We propose a formulation of stochastic thermodynamics for systems subjected to nonequilibrium constraints (i.e. broken detailed balance at steady state) and furthermore driven by external time-dependent forces. A splitting of the second law occurs in this description leading to three second-law-like relations. The general results are illustrated on specific solvable models. The present paper uses a master equation based approach.

Entropy production as correlation between system and reservoir

We derive an exact (classical and quantum) expression for the entropy production of a finite system placed in contact with one or several finite reservoirs, each of which is initially described by a canonical equilibrium distribution. Although the total entropy of system plus reservoirs is conserved, we show that system entropy production is always positive and is a direct measure of system–reservoir correlations and/or entanglements. Using an exactly solvable quantum model, we illustrate our novel interpretation of the Second Law in a microscopically reversible finite-size setting, with strong coupling between the system and the reservoirs. With this model, we also explicitly show the approach of our exact formulation to the standard description of irreversibility in the limit of a large reservoir.

Quantum-dot Carnot engine at maximum power.

We evaluate the efficiency at maximum power of a quantum-dot Carnot heat engine. The universal values of the coefficients at the linear and quadratic order in the temperature gradient are reproduced. Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency is recovered in the limit of weak dissipation.

Three faces of the second law. II. Fokker-Planck formulation

The total entropy production is the sum of two contributions, the so-called adiabatic and nonadiabatic entropy productions, each of which is non-negative. We derive their explicit expressions for continuous Markovian processes, discuss their properties, and illustrate their behavior on two exactly solvable models.

The unlikely Carnot efficiency

The efficiency of an heat engine is traditionally defined as the ratio of its average output work over its average input heat. Its highest possible value was discovered by Carnot in 1824 and is a cornerstone concept in thermodynamics. It led to the discovery of the second law and to the definition of the Kelvin temperature scale. Small-scale engines operate in the presence of highly fluctuating input and output energy fluxes. They are therefore much better characterized by fluctuating efficiencies. In this study, using the fluctuation theorem, we identify universal features of efficiency fluctuations. While the standard thermodynamic efficiency is, as expected, the most likely value, we find that the Carnot efficiency is, surprisingly, the least likely in the long time limit. Furthermore, the probability distribution for the efficiency assumes a universal scaling form when operating close-to-equilibrium. We illustrate our results analytically and numerically on two model systems.

Stochastically driven single-level quantum dot: a nanoscale finite-time thermodynamic machine and its various operational modes.

We describe a single-level quantum dot in contact with two leads as a nanoscale finite-time thermodynamic machine. The dot is driven by an external stochastic force that switches its energy between two values. In the isothermal regime, it can operate as a rechargeable battery by generating an electric current against the applied bias in response to the stochastic driving and then redelivering work in the reverse cycle. This behavior is reminiscent of the Parrondo paradox. If there is a thermal gradient the device can function as a work-generating thermal engine or as a refrigerator that extracts heat from the cold reservoir via the work input of the stochastic driving. The efficiency of the machine at maximum power output is investigated for each mode of operation, and universal features are identified.

Chiral brownian heat pump.

We present the exact analysis of a chiral Brownian motor and heat pump. Optimization of the construction predicts, for a nanoscale device, frequencies of the order of kHz and cooling rates of the order of femtojoule per second.

Onsager Coefficients in Periodically Driven Systems.

We evaluate the Onsager matrix for a system under time-periodic driving by considering all its Fourier components. By application of the second law, we prove that all the fluxes converge to zero in the limit of zero dissipation. Reversible efficiency can never be reached at finite power. The implication for an Onsager matrix, describing reduced fluxes, is that its determinant has to vanish. In the particular case of only two fluxes, the corresponding Onsager matrix becomes symmetric.

Universal theory of efficiency fluctuations.

Using the fluctuation theorem supplemented with geometric arguments, we derive universal features of the (long-time) efficiency fluctuations for thermal and isothermal machines operating under steady or periodic driving, close or far from equilibrium. In particular, the probabilities for observing the reversible efficiency and the least likely efficiency are identical to those of the same machine working under the time-reversed driving. For time-symmetric drivings, this reversible and the least probable efficiency coincide.