Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yuto Ashida, Takahiro Sagawa
Summary: Researchers have developed a reinforcement learning framework to optimize power and efficiency in nanoscale engines with significant two-body interactions. They found that electron-electron interactions can significantly enhance thermal performance, providing an alternative strategy for designing the best heat engines with multiple objectives.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhi Ping Niu, Meng Meng Wu
Summary: This study investigates the thermoelectric properties of a silicene based magnetic junction and finds that the maximum power and efficiency can be modulated by gate voltage, showing comparable or better performance than recent proposals based on graphene. The unique band-matching tunneling mechanism in silicene allows for a highly efficient quantum heat engine operation.
PHYSICA E-LOW-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS & NANOSTRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tilmann Ehrlich, Gernot Schaller
Summary: Research shows that optimal finite-sized quantum dot chains can accurately implement rectangular transmission functions, leading to violations of standard thermodynamic uncertainty relations and changes in heat engine performance.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Ramandeep S. Johal, Renuka Rai
Summary: We demonstrate that coupled autonomous thermal machines can achieve efficiency at maximum power (EMP) similar to models with only two reservoirs when three heat reservoirs are present. The temperature dependence of EMP in the coupled model is determined solely by the ratio of hot and cold temperatures if the intermediate reservoir temperature is expressed as the arithmetic mean of these temperatures. Many existing expressions of EMP in the literature can be obtained by choosing a specific mean. Moreover, the universal properties of EMP near equilibrium can be explained in terms of the properties of symmetric means. Additionally, for cases with broken time-reversal symmetry, a universal second-order coefficient of 6/49 is predicted in the series expansion of EMP, resembling the 1/8 coefficient in the time-reversal symmetric case.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yigermal Bassie, Asmamaw Tesega, Tibebe Birhanu, Yoseph Abebe
Summary: In this paper, we study the performance of a heat engine driven by interacting underdamped Brownian particles under a nonautonomous periodic force. Using finite-time stochastic thermodynamics, we derive expressions for thermodynamic quantities and investigate the engine's efficiency under maximum power output conditions. We find that the engine's performance can be described using scaled quantities as a function of Carnot efficiency and demonstrate that stronger coupling generally leads to better performance, while careful protocol design enables more efficient small-scale engines.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Jingyi Chen, Youlin Wang, Jincan Chen, Shanhe Su
Summary: The Drazin inverse of the Liouvillian superoperator is used to determine the dynamics of a time-dependent system governed by the Markovian master equation. Under the condition of slow driving, the perturbation expansion of the density operator of the system in powers of time can be derived. A finite-time cycle model of the quantum refrigerator driven by a time-dependent external field is established, and the Lagrange multiplier method is adopted to find the optimal cooling performance. The effects of the frequency exponent determining dissipation characteristics on the optimal performance of the refrigerator are discussed systematically.
Article
Physics, Applied
Shou-Bao Zhu, Guang-Qian Jiao, Jian-Hui Wang
Summary: In this study, the impact of energy quantization on system efficiency in adiabatic processes was investigated. By introducing a δ barrier to illustrate the non-uniform scaling of energy changes between different states, it was concluded that energy quantization can enhance efficiency at maximum power.
MODERN PHYSICS LETTERS B
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Giulia Gronchi, Andrea Puglisi
Summary: The optimization of heat engines at the microscale is studied in this research, with a focus on the impact of effective temperature on engine performance. By mapping passive and active models, an optimization method is proposed to achieve maximum power and efficiency.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Charles Geffroy, Drew Lilley, Pedro Sanchez Parez, Ravi Prasher
Summary: Despite significant research on waste-heat conversion (WHC), the market penetration of such technologies remains limited due to insufficient attention given to the techno-economic aspects. Studies indicate that WHC heat engines are economically viable only for temperatures above 150 degrees C and power output in the range of 100 kW to 1 MW.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaoguang Luo, Hexin Zhang, Dan Liu, Nannan Han, Dong Mei, Jinpeng Xu, Yingchun Cheng, Wei Huang
Summary: The study demonstrates that the limit efficiency at maximum power (EMP) of a thermoelectric heat engine can be achieved by resonant tunneling in the InP/InSe superlattice, where a strong coupling between symmetric mode and Fabry-Pe?rot modes is realized. Optimizing the bias voltage and the thicknesses of barrier and well can extract more than 95% of the theoretical limits of maximum power and EMP.
PHYSICA E-LOW-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS & NANOSTRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Optics
Tianran Li, Ziyu Wang, Jinhai Zou, Jinfen Hong, Qiujun Ruan, Hang Wang, Zhipeng Dong, Zhengqian Luo
Summary: This study demonstrates, for the first time, the direct generation of millijoule-level green pulses from a fiber laser, overcoming the limitations of near-IR laser frequency conversion and providing a model for compact, high-efficiency, and high-energy visible fiber pulsed lasers.
PHOTONICS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Seneke Chamith Chandrarathna, Seong-Yeon Moon, Jong-Wook Lee
Summary: This article presents a power management system (PMS) for hybrid energy harvesting from multiple multitype sources. The proposed approach features a simple architecture for hybrid energy harvesting, a backup power controller for recycling surplus energy, and an efficient boost-buck conversion mode for tracking multiple sources. The PMS operates under four modes and improves efficiency using auxiliary output paths and two storage nodes. The integrated circuit (IC) part of the PMS is fabricated in a 180 nm process, achieving high tracking efficiency and an end-to-end efficiency of up to 92.5%. Energy harvesting from multiple sources significantly extends the output power range.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Belqasem Aljafari, Priya Ranjan Satpathy, Sudhakar Babu Thanikanti
Summary: The susceptibility of PV arrays to partial shading poses a reliability concern, necessitating the development of a highly reliable, less complex, and fast array reconfiguration method to reduce shading losses.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sina Bajelvand, Ali Yazdian Varjani, Sadegh Vaez-Zadeh, Amir Babaki
Summary: This paper proposes a semi-active rectifier battery charging system based on a series-series resonant IPT system using constant-power and constant-voltage charging modes. A novel control approach based on the adaptive selection of the operating frequency and conduction angle is used to achieve high efficiency.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ENERGY CONVERSION
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Julian D. Osorio, Alejandro Rivera-Alvarez, Obie Abakporo, Juan C. Ordonez, Rob Hovsapian
Summary: In this paper, a thermodynamic model based on the endoreversible engine approach is developed to analyze the performance of heat engines under different thermodynamic cycles. The model considers finite heat transfer rate, variable heat source and sink temperatures, and irreversibilities associated with expansion and compression. Expressions for the maximum power and efficiency at maximum power output are obtained, taking into account the hot and cold reservoir temperatures, the equivalent isentropic efficiency, and the effective conductance ratio between heat exchangers. The proposed model allows for assessing the impact of isentropic efficiencies and heat exchanger design and operation characteristics on various thermodynamic cycles.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Francesco Avanzini, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: This study investigates the thermodynamic implications of two control mechanisms in open chemical reaction networks. It is shown that the two mechanisms can be mapped to each other, and thermodynamic theories developed for concentration control can also be applied to flux control. Furthermore, the study finds that while the two mechanisms are equivalent at steady state, flux control may lead to different behaviors.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Gianmaria Falasco, Massimiliano Esposito, Jean-Charles Delvenne
Summary: This study derives novel bounds on the nonlinear response of a system undergoing a change of probabilistic state, based on a recent geometric generalization of thermodynamic uncertainty relations. These bounds have various applications, including trade-offs between thermodynamic cost and system reliability, speed limits for non-autonomous Markov processes, and upper bounds on the nonlinear response based on the complexity of the system.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS A-MATHEMATICAL AND THEORETICAL
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jorge Tabanera, Ines Luque, Samuel L. Jacob, Massimiliano Esposito, Felipe Barra, Juan M. R. Parrondo
Summary: Collisional reservoirs are important in modeling open quantum systems, where theoretical solutions in one dimension with flat interaction potentials are feasible. Approximate scattering map methods help preserve the system's symmetries and achieve thermalization effectively.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuntaro Amano, Massimiliano Esposito, Elisabeth Kreidt, David A. Leigh, Emanuele Penocchio, Benjamin M. W. Roberts
Summary: The framework of information thermodynamics allows us to quantitatively relate information to other thermodynamic parameters and reveals the generation of energy and information flow in the chemical to mechanical process. This is of great significance for understanding the thermodynamic level of molecular motors and has practical implications for machine design.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jan Meibohm, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: We have discovered a finite-time dynamical phase transition in the thermal relaxation process, which is characterized by a cusp singularity in the probability distribution of the magnetization at a critical time. This transition is attributed to the sudden switch in dynamics, represented by a dynamical order parameter. We have developed a dynamical Landau theory that applies to various systems with scalar, parity-invariant order parameters. Our theory reveals an exact mapping between the dynamical and equilibrium phase transitions of the magnetic model near criticality, suggesting critical exponents of mean-field type. We propose that neglected interactions between nearby saddle points at the mean-field level may lead to spatiotemporal fluctuations and give rise to novel dynamical critical phenomena.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Emanuele Penocchio, Francesco Avanzini, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: This study extends the scope of information thermodynamics to deterministic bipartite chemical reaction networks and introduces a meaningful concept of mutual information between different molecular features. By using this concept, separate second laws can be formulated for each subnetwork, and the working mechanisms of chemically driven self-assembly and light-driven bimolecular motor can be investigated.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Artur Wachtel, Riccardo Rao, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: This article provides a rigorous definition of free-energy transduction and its efficiency in open chemical reaction networks. Central energy metabolism is analyzed to relate the fundamental currents to metabolic pathways and discuss their efficiency in transducing free energy.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Stefano Corra, Marina Tranfic Bakic, Jessica Groppi, Massimo Baroncini, Serena Silvi, Emanuele Penocchio, Massimiliano Esposito, Alberto Credi
Summary: This study presents a theoretical model and experimental evidence for the operation of an out-of-equilibrium photoactivated artificial molecular pump. The relationship between light energy input and the deviation of the dissipative state from thermodynamic equilibrium in this artificial system is quantitatively analyzed.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shesha Gopal Marehalli Srinivas, Matteo Polettini, Massimiliano Esposito, Francesco Avanzini
Summary: This paper investigates the relationship between the chemical master equation and its dual equation for stochastic chemical processes. By studying the topological properties of the chemical reaction network, it is determined whether they satisfy the law of mass-action. It is proven that only networks with zero deficiency can satisfy the law of mass-action, while other networks cannot invert the direction of their steady-state reactions by controlling the kinetic constants. Therefore, the deficiency of the network determines the non-invertibility of the chemical dynamics. Furthermore, it is shown that catalytic chemical networks do not have zero deficiency when they are driven out of equilibrium due to species exchange with the environment.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Krzysztof Ptaszynski, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: There is controversy about whether the coherent superposition of occupied states of two fermionic modes should be regarded as entangled, and whether the quantum correlations it possesses are accessible and usable as a resource. The superselection rule has been cited as a reason for why this entanglement cannot be accessed through local operations on individual modes. However, this study demonstrates that entanglement of a two-mode fermionic state can be utilized as a genuine quantum resource in open-system thermodynamic processes, enabling tasks that are forbidden for separable states. Quantum thermodynamics can thus provide insight into the nature of fermionic entanglement and its operational meaning.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jorge Tabanera-Bravo, Juan M. R. Parrondo, Massimiliano Esposito, Felipe Barra
Summary: We introduce a class of quantum maps that can thermalize a system in collisional reservoirs when combined with a dephasing mechanism. These maps describe collision effects, inducing transitions obeying detailed balance and creating coherences that prevent thermalization. By combining these maps with random unitary evolution causing dephasing, we find that a low collision rate leads to thermalization in the system. This scenario is suitable for modeling equilibrium collisional reservoirs, and we provide a thorough characterization of the resulting thermalization process.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Quantum Science & Technology
Krzysztof Ptaszynski, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: The entropy production in fermionic systems is mostly quantum due to the restriction on allowed measurements imposed by the parity superselection rule. In contrast, bosonic systems allow for a larger amount of classical correlations to be accessed through Gaussian measurements. This distinction suggests a quantum-to-classical transition in the microscopic formulation of entropy production.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Krzysztof Ptaszynski, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: This study investigates the entropy production of an open system coupled to a reservoir initialized in a canonical state. The entropy production is found to be a sum of the mutual information between the system and the bath, as well as a measure of the displacement of the environment from equilibrium. However, when the reservoir is initialized in a microcanonical or certain pure state, the information-theoretic contributions to the entropy production depend on the initial state of the reservoir.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Nahuel Freitas, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: A CMOS-based implementation of an autonomous Maxwell's demon was proposed to demonstrate its functionality at macroscopic scales. The nonautonomous version of the model was analyzed analytically, followed by a study of system-demon information flows in generic bipartite setups. It was found that the information flow is an intensive quantity and scaling the thermodynamic forces can prevent the demon from stopping above a finite scale.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Nahuel Freitas, Karel Proesmans, Massimiliano Esposito
Summary: We investigate the relationship between reliability and entropy production in a realistic model of electronic memory, and derive an explicit expression bounding the error rate of the memory. Our results go beyond the classical instanton theory and are confirmed by comparison with stochastic simulations.
