2013/02/14 by David Gelbwaser-Klimovsky, D. Gelbwaser-Klimovsky, Robert Alicki +6 · 1 citation
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Automotive engineering #Computer science #Engineering #Environmental science #FOS: Physical sciences #Heat engine #Mechanical engineering #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum mechanics #Work (physics) #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1302.3468
Replaced by arXiv:1306.1472 [quant-ph]
openalex publication_date 2013/02/14 · arxiv created 2013/10/10 · arxiv updated 2013/10/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Work extraction from a heat engine in a cycle by a quantum mechanical device (quantum "piston") is analyzed. The standard definition of work fails in the quantum domain. The correct extractable work and its efficiency bound are shown to crucially depend on the initial quantum state of the piston. The transient efficiency bound may exceed the standard Carnot bound, although it complies with the second law. Energy gain (e.g. in lasing) is shown to drastically differ from work gain.