Quantum Institute: Visitor Schedule

The Quantum Lunch is regularly held on Thursdays in the Theoretical Division Conference Room, TA-3, Building 123, Room 121. For more information, contact Diego Dalvit.

November 1, 2007
Thursday, 12:30PM to 2 PM
T-DO Conference Room, TA-3-123-121

Haitao Quan,
T-DO, LANL

Quantum Thermodynamic Cycles and Quantum Heat Engines

Abstract

In order to describe quantum heat engines, we systematically study isothermal and isochoric processes for quantum thermodynamic cycles. Based on these results, the quantum versions of both the Carnot heat engine and the Otto heat engine are defined without ambiguities. We also study the properties of quantum Carnot and Otto heat engines in comparison with their classical counterparts. Relations and mappings between these two quantum heat engines are also investigated by considering their respective quantum thermodynamic processes. In addition, we discuss the role of Maxwell's demon in quantum thermodynamic cycles. We find that there is no violation of the second law, even in the existence of such a demon, when the demon is included correctly as part of the working substance of the heat engine.