arXiv · quant-ph/0106048
Quantum thermodynamic cooling cycle
Abstract
The quantum-mechanical and thermodynamic properties of a 3-level molecular cooling cycle are derived. An inadequacy of earlier models is rectified in accounting for the spontaneous emission and absorption associated with the coupling to the coherent driving field via an environmental reservoir. This additional coupling need not be dissipative, and can provide a thermal driving force - the quantum analog of classical absorption chillers. The dependence of the maximum attainable cooling rate on temperature, at ultra-low temperatures, is determined and shown to respect the recently-established fundamental bound based on the second and third laws of thermodynamics.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Jose P. Palao, Ronnie Kosloff, Jeffrey M. Gordon. 2001-06-08. Quantum thermodynamic cooling cycle. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.64.056130
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.