Quantum-dot heat engines with irreversible heat transfer
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Jianying Du; Wei Shen; Xin Zhang; Shanhe Su; Jincan Chen
- Source
- Physical Review Research, Vol 2, Iss 1, p 013259 (2020)
- Subject
- Physics
QC1-999
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2643-1564
We study an endoreversible quantum heat engine in which the heat transfer between the baths is mediated by two qubits. Each qubit acts as an energy filter which allows for the conversion of heat into work. The relation between the efficiency and the power output is derived. It is found that the efficiency of the quantum heat engine at the maximum power output is closely dependent on the properties of quantum dots and does not equal the Curzon-Alhborn efficiency, which is only a function of the bath temperatures. The efficiency and the power output may be adjusted through qubit energy levels. It is further shown that in the limiting cases of small energy levels (or high temperatures) and small temperature differences, the quantum heat engine converges to the classical endoreversible Carnot heat engine.