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Quantum heat transfer in harmonic chains with self-consistent reservoirs: exact numerical simulations
Malay Bandyopadhyay1, Dvira Segal
1Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
Summary
Quantum harmonic chains exhibit thermal rectification, a purely quantum phenomenon, at low temperatures and large biases. This effect, absent in classical simulations, arises from quantum statistics.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Statistical mechanics
Background:
- Understanding heat transport in quantum systems is crucial for nanoscale thermal management.
- Classical models often fail to capture unique quantum phenomena in thermal transport.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a numerical scheme for exact simulation of heat current in a quantum harmonic chain.
- To compare quantum simulation results with classical simulations and linear-response approximations.
- To investigate the emergence of thermal rectification in quantum systems.
Main Methods:
- Development of a numerical scheme for exact simulation of quantum harmonic chains.
- Comparison of numerically exact quantum results with classical simulations.
- Analysis of quantum behavior under linear-response approximation.
Main Results:
- Exact quantum simulations reveal deviations from classical behavior at large temperature biases and low temperatures.
- The study demonstrates thermal rectification in asymmetric quantum harmonic chains.
- Classical analogs of the model do not exhibit thermal rectification.
Conclusions:
- Thermal rectification in this quantum harmonic chain model is a purely quantum mechanical effect.
- Quantum statistics are fundamental to the observed thermal rectification phenomenon.
- The findings highlight the limitations of classical approaches for describing quantum thermal transport.
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