Stochastic Pumping of Heat: Approaching the Carnot Efficiency

2008/11/24 by Dvira Segal · 70 citations
Engineering · Materials Science · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Carnot cycle #Computer science #Heat current #Heat transfer #Limit (mathematics) #Materials science #Mathematical analysis #Mathematics #Noise (video) #Phonon #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Range (aeronautics) #Statistical physics #Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies #Thermal properties of materials #Thermodynamics #cond-mat.other #cond-mat.stat-mech

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.260601

published in Physical Review Letters 101(26), 260601 (American Physical Society)

arxiv created 2008/11/24 · openalex publication_date 2008/12/23 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Random noise can generate a unidirectional heat current across asymmetric nano-objects in the absence (or against) a temperature gradient. We present a minimal model for a molecular-level stochastic heat pump that may operate arbitrarily close to the Carnot efficiency. The model consists a fluctuating molecular unit coupled to two solids characterized by distinct phonon spectral properties. Heat pumping persists for a broad range of system and bath parameters. Furthermore, by filtering the reservoirs' phonons the pump efficiency can approach the Carnot limit.

Citations

• Energy flux operator, current conservation and the formal Fourier's law
• A heat pump at a molecular scale controlled by a mechanical force
• A tunable carbon nanotube electromechanical oscillator
• Nonadiabatic electron heat pump

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