Steady-state thermodynamics of non-interacting transport beyond weak coupling

We investigate the thermodynamics of simple (non-interacting) transport models beyond the scope of weak coupling. For a single fermionic or bosonic level -tunnel-coupled to two reservoirs-exact expressions for the stationary matter and energy current are derived from the solutions of the Heisenberg...

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Veröffentlicht in:Europhysics letters 2015-06, Vol.110 (6), p.67003-p1-67003-p6
Hauptverfasser: Topp, Gabriel E., Brandes, Tobias, Schaller, Gernot
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We investigate the thermodynamics of simple (non-interacting) transport models beyond the scope of weak coupling. For a single fermionic or bosonic level -tunnel-coupled to two reservoirs-exact expressions for the stationary matter and energy current are derived from the solutions of the Heisenberg equations of motion. The positivity of the steady-state entropy production rate is demonstrated explicitly. Finally, for a configuration in which particles are pumped upwards in chemical potential by a downward temperature gradient, we demonstrate that the thermodynamic efficiency of this process decreases when the coupling strength between system and reservoirs is increased, as a direct consequence of the loss of a tight coupling between energy and matter currents.
ISSN:0295-5075
1286-4854
DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/110/67003