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Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving
Published on: March 30, 2017
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Fundamental limits for cooling of linear quantum refrigerators
Nahuel Freitas1, Juan Pablo Paz1
1Departamento de Física, FCEyN, UBA, Pabellón 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina and Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires, UBA CONICET, Pabellón 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Physical Review. E
|February 18, 2017
Summary
This study proves the dynamical third law of thermodynamics for periodically driven quantum systems. A fundamental quantum heating mechanism, missed in weak-coupling approximations, sets the ultimate cooling limit.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Thermodynamics
- Open Quantum Systems
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- The dynamical third law of thermodynamics (Nernst unattainability principle) has been recently challenged.
- Previous studies often rely on weak-coupling or Markovian approximations, limiting their applicability.
- Understanding the asymptotic dynamics of driven quantum systems interacting with reservoirs is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the asymptotic dynamics of periodically driven linear quantum open systems.
- To obtain exact results for heat flow beyond standard approximations.
- To rigorously prove the validity of the dynamical third law of thermodynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of arbitrary linear quantum open systems coupled to generic bosonic reservoirs.
- Derivation of exact results for reservoir heat flow, not limited by weak-coupling or Markovian assumptions.
- Identification of a novel quantum heating mechanism.
Main Results:
- Exact results for heat flow from reservoirs in periodically driven quantum systems.
- Demonstration that a fundamental quantum heating mechanism dominates at low temperatures.
- This mechanism involves nonresonant creation of reservoir excitation pairs by the driving field.
Conclusions:
- The dynamical third law of thermodynamics is proven valid for these systems.
- The identified quantum heating effect restores the unattainability principle.
- This work provides a more complete understanding of cooling limits in driven quantum systems.
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