Non-linear regime for enhanced performance of an Aharonov-Bohm heat engine

Abstract

Thermal transport and quantum thermodynamics at the nanoscale is nowadays garnering an increasing attention, in particular in the context of quantum technologies. Experiments relevant for quantum technology are expected to be performed in the non-linear regime. In this work, we build on previous results derived in the linear response regime for the performance of an Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer operated as heat engine. In the non-linear regime, we demonstrate the tunability, large efficiency and thermopower that this mesoscopic quantum machine can achieve, confirming the exciting perspectives that this AB ring offers for developing efficient thermal machines in the fully quantum regime.

6 pages, 5 figures, invited contribution to AVS Quantum Science, Special Topic Collection on Quantum Thermodynamics, published version. Featured paper by the Editor

References in corpus (4)

• Finding the quantum thermoelectric with maximal efficiency and minimal entropy production at given power output
• Scattering theory of nonlinear thermoelectric transport
• Electrical control of a solid-state flying qubit
• Scattering matrix approach to the description of quantum electron transport