Carnot's theorem for nonthermal stationary reservoirs

Simone De Liberato and Masahito Ueda
Phys. Rev. E 84, 051122 – Published 21 November 2011

Abstract

Carnot's theorem poses a fundamental limit on the maximum efficiency achievable from an engine that works between two reservoirs at thermal equilibrium. We extend this result to the case of arbitrary nonthermal stationary reservoirs, even with quantum coherence. In order to do this we prove that a single nonthermal reservoir is formally equivalent to multiple equilibrium ones. Finally, we discuss the possibility of realizing an engine that works at unit efficiency by exploiting quantum coherence present in the reservoir.

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  • Received 12 August 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051122

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Simone De Liberato* and Masahito Ueda

  • Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

  • *simone.de.liberato@gmail.com

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Vol. 84, Iss. 5 — November 2011

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