Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines
The efficiency of a thermal engine working in the linear response regime in a multi-terminal configuration is discussed. For the generic three-terminal case, we provide a general definition of local and non-local transport coefficients: electrical and thermal conductances, and thermoelectric powers....
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
IOP Publishing
2014-01-01
|
Series: | New Journal of Physics |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/8/085001 |
_version_ | 1797751316576993280 |
---|---|
author | Francesco Mazza Riccardo Bosisio Giuliano Benenti Vittorio Giovannetti Rosario Fazio Fabio Taddei |
author_facet | Francesco Mazza Riccardo Bosisio Giuliano Benenti Vittorio Giovannetti Rosario Fazio Fabio Taddei |
author_sort | Francesco Mazza |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The efficiency of a thermal engine working in the linear response regime in a multi-terminal configuration is discussed. For the generic three-terminal case, we provide a general definition of local and non-local transport coefficients: electrical and thermal conductances, and thermoelectric powers. Within the Onsager formalism, we derive analytical expressions for the efficiency at maximum power, which can be written in terms of generalized figures of merit. Furthermore, using two examples, we investigate numerically how a third terminal could improve the performance of a quantum system, and under which conditions non-local thermoelectric effects can be observed. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:47:43Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-85444f37127d4de5b3e4ee5e7c0c7a6d |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1367-2630 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:47:43Z |
publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
publisher | IOP Publishing |
record_format | Article |
series | New Journal of Physics |
spelling | doaj.art-85444f37127d4de5b3e4ee5e7c0c7a6d2023-08-08T11:31:01ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302014-01-0116808500110.1088/1367-2630/16/8/085001Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machinesFrancesco Mazza0Riccardo Bosisio1Giuliano Benenti2Vittorio Giovannetti3Rosario Fazio4Fabio Taddei5NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR , I-56126 Pisa, ItalyService de Physique de l’ État Condensé (CNRS URA 2464) , IRAMIS/SPEC, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceCNISM and Center for Nonlinear and Complex Systems, Universitá degli Studi dell’ Insubria , via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare , Sezione di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, ItalyNEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR , I-56126 Pisa, ItalyNEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR , I-56126 Pisa, ItalyNEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR , I-56126 Pisa, ItalyThe efficiency of a thermal engine working in the linear response regime in a multi-terminal configuration is discussed. For the generic three-terminal case, we provide a general definition of local and non-local transport coefficients: electrical and thermal conductances, and thermoelectric powers. Within the Onsager formalism, we derive analytical expressions for the efficiency at maximum power, which can be written in terms of generalized figures of merit. Furthermore, using two examples, we investigate numerically how a third terminal could improve the performance of a quantum system, and under which conditions non-local thermoelectric effects can be observed.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/8/085001thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effectsnonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamicselectronic transport in mesoscopic systems72.20.Pa05.70.Ln73.23.-b |
spellingShingle | Francesco Mazza Riccardo Bosisio Giuliano Benenti Vittorio Giovannetti Rosario Fazio Fabio Taddei Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines New Journal of Physics thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics electronic transport in mesoscopic systems 72.20.Pa 05.70.Ln 73.23.-b |
title | Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines |
title_full | Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines |
title_fullStr | Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines |
title_full_unstemmed | Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines |
title_short | Thermoelectric efficiency of three-terminal quantum thermal machines |
title_sort | thermoelectric efficiency of three terminal quantum thermal machines |
topic | thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics electronic transport in mesoscopic systems 72.20.Pa 05.70.Ln 73.23.-b |
url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/8/085001 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT francescomazza thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines AT riccardobosisio thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines AT giulianobenenti thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines AT vittoriogiovannetti thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines AT rosariofazio thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines AT fabiotaddei thermoelectricefficiencyofthreeterminalquantumthermalmachines |