70 research outputs found
A perspective on Lindblad's Non-Equilibrium Entropy
G\"oran Lindblad in 1983 published a monograph on non-equilibrium
thermodynamics. We here summarize the contents of this book, and provide a
perspective on its relation to later developments in statistical physics and
quantum physics. We high-light two aspects. The first is the idea that while
all unitaries can be allowed in principle, different theories result from
limiting which unitary evolutions are realized in the real world. The second is
that Lindblad's proposal for thermodynamic entropy (as opposed to
information-theoretic entropy) foreshadows much more recent investigations into
optimal quantum transport which is a current research focus in several fields.Comment: 32 pages, one figure. Invited contribution to the Lindblad memorial
volume, to be published in Open Systems and Information Dynamics (2023
Quantum-dot Carnot engine at maximum power
We evaluate the efficiency at maximum power of a quantum-dot Carnot heat
engine. The universal value of the coefficients at the linear and quadratic
order in the temperature gradient are reproduced. Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency is
recovered in the limit of weak dissipation.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur
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