Finite-time quantum Otto engine: Surpassing the quasi-static efficiency due to friction

Abstract

In finite-time quantum heat engines, some work is consumed to drive a working fluid accompanying coherence, which is called `friction'. To understand the role of friction in quantum thermodynamics, we present a couple of finite-time quantum Otto cycles with two different baths: Agarwal versus Lindbladian. We solve them exactly and compare the performance of the Agarwal engine with that of the Lindbladian engine. In particular, we find remarkable and counterintuitive results that the performance of the Agarwal engine due to friction can be much higher than that in the quasistatic limit with the Otto efficiency, and the power of the Lindbladian engine can be nonzero in the short-time limit. Based on additional numerical calculations of these outcomes, we discuss possible origins of such differences between two engines and reveal them. Our results imply that even with an equilibrium bath, a nonequilibrium working fluid brings on the higher performance than what an equilibrium working fluid does.

10 pages, 5 figures (main) with additional 3 figures (appendix); published version

References in corpus (5)

• Single ion heat engine with maximum efficiency at maximum power
• The Wigner Entropy Production Rate
• Quantum Otto cycle with inner friction: finite-time and disorder effects
• Quantum Brownian Motion with Inhomogeneous Damping and Diffusion
• Work and Efficiency of Quantum Otto Cycles in Power Law Trapping Potentials

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Finite-time performance of a single-ion quantum Otto engine
• Measurement-based quantum Otto engine with a two-spin system coupled by anisotropic interaction: enhanced efficiency at finite times
• Power Fluctuations of An Irreversible Quantum Otto Engine
• A quantum Stirling heat engine operating in finite time
• Thermodynamics of the Coarse-Graining Master Equation
• A quantum Otto-type heat engine with fixed frequency