Characterizing the Carnot cycle at absolute zero: a reply to "Comment on `Proof of the Nernst theorem' "

Abstract

This reply addresses a recent comment concerning the proof of the Nernst theorem. I clarify how a Carnot engine can consistently operate at $T=0$ through a continuous deformation of a cycle operating at $T>0$. By examining the limit where heat exchange with the cold reservoir vanishes, I show that the Nernst theorem ensures that the concept of temperature remains physically consistent at the absolute zero limit.

3pages, 1figure,

References in corpus (4)

• Proof of the Nernst heat theorem
• Universal restrictions to the conversion of heat into work derived from the analysis of the Nernst theorem as a uniform limit
• Thermal stability originates the vanishing of the specific heats at the absolute zero
• Does classical thermodynamics need a third law? Securing the second law at absolute zero