Quantum bounds on heat transport through nanojunctions

Abstract

We derive rigorous quantum mechanical bounds for the heat current through a nanojunction connecting two thermal baths at different temperatures. Based on exact sum rules, these bounds compliment the well-known quantum of thermal conductance ${\kappa }_Q\equiv \pi k_B^{2}T/6\hslash$, which provides a bound for low-temperature heat transport in all systems, but is saturated only for noninteracting transport. In contrast, our bounds are saturated at high temperatures---but still in the quantum regime---, even when interactions are very strong. We evaluate these bounds for harmonic and strongly anharmonic junction models and compare with numerical approaches.

8 pages, 4 figures

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