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Heat capacities of thermally manipulated mechanical oscillator at strong coupling
Michal Kolář1, Artem Ryabov2,3, Radim Filip4
1Palacký University, Department of Optics, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic. kolar@optics.upol.cz.
Abstract:
Coherent quantum oscillators are basic physical systems both in quantum statistical physics and quantum thermodynamics. Their realizations in lab often involve solid-state devices sensitive to changes in ambient temperature. We represent states of the solid-state optomechanical oscillator with temperature-dependent frequency by equivalent states of the mechanical oscillator with temperature-dependent energy levels. We interpret the temperature dependence as a consequence of strong coupling between the oscillator and the heat bath. We explore parameter regimes corresponding to anomalous behavior of mechanical and thermodynamic characteristics as a consequence of the strong coupling: (i) The localization and the purification induced by heating, and (ii) the negativity of two generalized heat capacities. The capacities can be used to witness non-linearity in the temperature dependency of the energy levels. Our phenomenological experimentally-oriented approach can stimulate development of new optomechanical and thermomechanical experiments exploring basic concepts of strong coupling thermodynamics.
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