Achieving Carnot efficiency in a finite-power Brownian Carnot cycle with arbitrary temperature difference

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Statistical Mechanics
• Heat Engines

Background:

• Achieving Carnot efficiency at finite power in heat engines is challenging due to the inherent efficiency-power trade-off.
• Previous theoretical work suggested this might be possible in the limit of vanishing relaxation times, but lacked explicit models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate an explicit model of a heat engine that achieves Carnot efficiency at finite power.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of this scenario for arbitrary temperature differences.

Main Methods:

• Investigated an underdamped Brownian Carnot cycle.
• Incorporated finite-time adiabatic processes connecting isothermal processes.
• Analyzed the system's behavior in the vanishing limit of relaxation times.

Main Results:

• The study shows that Carnot efficiency at finite power is achievable in the vanishing relaxation time limit for the proposed Brownian Carnot cycle.
• This compatibility holds for arbitrary temperature differences.
• Theoretical trade-off relations derived for the cycle support these findings.

Conclusions:

• The developed underdamped Brownian Carnot cycle offers a practical pathway to achieving both high efficiency and finite power.
• This research overcomes a significant hurdle in finite-time thermodynamics, with implications for designing more efficient heat engines.