Quantum thermal diode based on two interacting spinlike systems under different excitations

Jose Ordonez-Miranda, Younès Ezzahri, and Karl Joulain
Phys. Rev. E 95, 022128 – Published 22 February 2017

Abstract

We demonstrate that two interacting spinlike systems characterized by different excitation frequencies and coupled to a thermal bath each, can be used as a quantum thermal diode capable of efficiently rectifying the heat current. This is done by deriving analytical expressions for both the heat current and rectification factor of the diode, based on the solution of a master equation for the density matrix. Higher rectification factors are obtained for lower heat currents, whose magnitude takes their maximum values for a given interaction coupling proportional to the temperature of the hotter thermal bath. It is shown that the rectification ability of the diode increases with the excitation frequencies difference, which drives the asymmetry of the heat current, when the temperatures of the thermal baths are inverted. Furthermore, explicit conditions for the optimization of the rectification factor and heat current are explicitly found.

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  • Received 16 December 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.95.022128

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & Technology

Authors & Affiliations

Jose Ordonez-Miranda*, Younès Ezzahri, and Karl Joulain

  • Institut Pprime, CNRS, Université de Poitiers, ISAE-ENSMA, Futuroscope Chasseneuil F-86962, France

  • *jose.ordonez@cnrs.pprime.fr

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 2 — February 2017

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