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arXiv · 1810.06274

Optimal probabilistic work extraction beyond the free energy difference with a single-electron device

Olivier Maillet·Paolo A. Erdman·Vasco Cavina·Bibek Bhandari·Elsa T. Mannila·Joonas T. Peltonen·Andrea Mari·Fabio Taddei·Christopher Jarzynski·Vittorio Giovannetti·Jukka P. Pekola
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Abstract

We experimentally realize protocols that allow to extract work beyond the free energy difference from a single electron transistor at the single thermodynamic trajectory level. With two carefully designed out-of-equilibrium driving cycles featuring kicks of the control parameter, we demonstrate work extraction up to large fractions of $k_BT$ or with probabilities substantially greater than 1/2, despite zero free energy difference over the cycle. Our results are explained in the framework of nonequilibrium fluctuation relations. We thus show that irreversibility can be used as a resource for optimal work extraction even in the absence of feedback from an external operator.

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Olivier Maillet, Paolo A. Erdman, Vasco Cavina, Bibek Bhandari, Elsa T. Mannila, Joonas T. Peltonen, Andrea Mari, Fabio Taddei, Christopher Jarzynski, Vittorio Giovannetti, Jukka P. Pekola. 2019-02-25. Optimal probabilistic work extraction beyond the free energy difference with a single-electron device. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.122.150604

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