The reaction coordinate mapping in quantum thermodynamics

Abstract

We present an overview of the reaction coordinate approach to handling strong system-reservoir interactions in quantum thermodynamics. This technique is based on incorporating a collective degree of freedom of the reservoir (the reaction coordinate) into an enlarged system Hamiltonian (the supersystem), which is then treated explicitly. The remaining residual reservoir degrees of freedom are traced out in the usual perturbative manner. The resulting description accurately accounts for strong system-reservoir coupling and/or non-Markovian effects over a wide range of parameters, including regimes in which there is a substantial generation of system-reservoir correlations. We discuss applications to both discrete stroke and continuously operating heat engines, as well as perspectives for additional developments. In particular, we find narrow regimes where strong coupling is not detrimental to the performance of continuously operating heat engines.

17 pages, 2 tables, 7 figures. As a chapter of: F. Binder, L. A. Correa, C. Gogolin, J. Anders, and G. Adesso (eds.), "Thermodynamics in the quantum regime - Recent Progress and Outlook", (Springer International Publishing)

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Cited by in corpus (16)

• An introductory review of the resource theory approach to thermodynamics
• Strong coupling effects in quantum thermal transport with the reaction coordinate method
• Markovian Treatment of non-Markovian Dynamics of Open Fermionic Systems
• Optimal nonequilibrium thermometry in Markovian environments
• Finite-time Landauer principle beyond weak coupling
• Optimizing thermalizations
• Quantum Thermal Transport Beyond Second Order with the Reaction Coordinate Mapping
• Thermodynamic Roles of Quantum Environments: From Heat Baths to Work Reservoirs
• Periodically refreshed quantum thermal machines
• Dynamics of a quantum system interacting with white non-Gaussian baths: Poisson noise master equation
• Enhanced entanglement in multi-bath spin-boson models
• Microscopic contributions to the entropy production at all times: From nonequilibrium steady states to global thermalization
• Energetic advantages of non-adiabatic drives combined with non-thermal quantum states
• Quantum Thermodynamics of Open Quantum Systems: Nature of Thermal Fluctuations
• Chain-mapping methods for relativistic light-matter interactions
• Current fluctuations in nonequilibrium open quantum systems beyond weak coupling: a reaction coordinate approach