Achieve higher efficiency at maximum power with finite-time quantum Otto cycle

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Statistical Mechanics

Background:

• Heat engine optimization is crucial for efficiency and power output.
• Finite-time thermodynamics presents challenges, limiting studies to specific cycles like Carnot.
• Quantum systems offer new avenues for thermodynamic exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel finite-time heat engine model based on the quantum Otto cycle.
• To demonstrate enhanced efficiency at maximum power output.
• To provide a widely applicable model leveraging general scaling laws.

Main Methods:

• Development of a finite-time engine model utilizing the quantum Otto cycle.
• Application of the adiabatic perturbation method to a quantum piston model.
• Calculation and validation of efficiency at maximum power using an exact solution.

Main Results:

• A higher achievable efficiency at maximum power was demonstrated for the proposed quantum Otto cycle engine.
• The model benefits from a general C/τ² scaling of extra work for long control times (τ).
• The calculated efficiency at maximum power was validated against an exact solution.

Conclusions:

• The proposed finite-time quantum Otto cycle engine offers improved performance.
• The general scaling law enhances the model's applicability in finite-time thermodynamics.
• This work provides a validated framework for quantum heat engine optimization.