Thermodynamic Bounds on Efficiency for Systems with Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry

2011/02/28 by Giuliano Benenti, Keiji Saito, Giulio Casati · 3 citations
Engineering · Materials Science · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices #Asymmetry #Bounded function #Carnot cycle #Coupling (piping) #Figure of merit #Geometry #Limit (mathematics) #Materials science #Mathematical analysis #Mathematics #Maximum power principle #Optics #Physics #Power (physics) #Quantum mechanics #Statistical physics #Symmetry (geometry) #T-symmetry #Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies #cond-mat.stat-mech

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.106.230602

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 230602 (2011) · Final version, 4 pages, 3 figures

openalex publication_date 2011/06/08 · arxiv created 2011/11/20 · arxiv updated 2015/03/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We show that for systems with broken time-reversal symmetry the maximum efficiency and the efficiency at maximum power are both determined by two parameters: a "figure of merit" and an asymmetry parameter. In contrast to the time-symmetric case, the figure of merit is bounded from above; nevertheless the Carnot efficiency can be reached at lower and lower values of the figure of merit and far from the so-called strong coupling condition as the asymmetry parameter increases. Moreover, the Curzon-Ahlborn limit for efficiency at maximum power can be overcome within linear response. Finally, always within linear response, it is allowed to have Carnot efficiency and nonzero power simultaneously .

Citations

• Universality of Efficiency at Maximum Power
• New Directions for Low‐Dimensional Thermoelectric Materials
• Thermopower of single-channel disordered and chaotic conductors
• Phase Dependent Thermopower in Andreev Interferometers
• Complex thermoelectric materials

Cited by

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• Diverging, but negligible power at Carnot efficiency: Theory and experiment
• Bound on thermoelectric power in a magnetic field within linear response
• Quantum Coherent Three-Terminal Thermoelectrics: Maximum Efficiency at Given Power Output

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