2017/05/31 by Artemy Kolchinsky, Iman Marvian, Can Gokler +6 · 1 voice · 6 citations
Engineering · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Algorithm #Artificial intelligence #Computer science #Energy (signal processing) #Energy harvesting #Engineering #Mathematical optimization #Mathematics #Maximization #Physics #Process engineering #Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect #Simple (philosophy) #State (computer science) #Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies #Thermodynamics #Variety (cybernetics) #Work (physics)
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/e27010091
published in Entropy 27(1), 91 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2025/01/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Maximizing the amount of work harvested from an environment is important for a wide variety of biological and technological processes, from energy-harvesting processes such as photosynthesis to energy storage systems such as fuels and batteries. Here, we consider the maximization of free energy-and by extension, the maximum extractable work-that can be gained by a classical or quantum system that undergoes driving by its environment. We consider how the free energy gain depends on the initial state of the system while also accounting for the cost of preparing the system. We provide simple necessary and sufficient conditions for increasing the gain of free energy by varying the initial state. We also derive simple formulae that relate the free energy gained using the optimal initial state rather than another suboptimal initial state. Finally, we demonstrate that the problem of finding the optimal initial state may have two distinct regimes, one easy and one difficult, depending on the temperatures used for preparation and work extraction. We illustrate our results on a simple model of an information engine.