Quantum thermoelectrics in closed circuit with non-equilibrium electrons

Area of Science:

• Quantum thermodynamics
• Solid-state physics
• Thermoelectric energy conversion

Background:

• Quantum heat converters are crucial for energy harvesting.
• Understanding environmental influences is key to optimizing device performance.
• Non-equilibrium conditions in classical environments are often overlooked but can significantly impact quantum systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically investigate the impact of a non-equilibrium classical environment on quantum heat converter parameters.
• To derive analytical expressions for thermoelectric coefficients under non-equilibrium conditions.
• To determine the influence of non-equilibrium on the theoretical power and efficiency limits of quantum heat engines.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of a quantum heat converter in a closed circuit.
• Derivation of kinetic coefficients considering non-equilibrium electron distribution functions.
• Calculation of Seebeck and Peltier coefficients under current and heat flow.
• Determination of power and efficiency limits under fixed output power.

Main Results:

• Non-equilibrium electron distribution in metal terminals contributes to kinetic coefficients.
• Analytical expressions for Seebeck and Peltier coefficients were obtained, accounting for terminal non-equilibrium.
• The influence of non-equilibrium on theoretical power limits and efficiency at fixed output power was determined.
• Closed-form solutions for quantum bounds on power and efficiency were derived for specific cases.

Conclusions:

• Environmental non-equilibrium significantly influences quantum heat converter performance.
• The derived analytical expressions provide a framework for understanding these effects.
• A novel spectroscopic thermoelectric method is proposed for studying quantum systems.
• This research offers insights into optimizing quantum thermoelectric devices.