Maximum work in minimum time from a conservative quantum system.
This paper considers the problem of obtaining maximum work from a conservative quantum system corresponding to a given change in an external parameter in the Hamiltonian. The example we present is a non-interacting collection of harmonic oscillators with a shared frequency omega which changes from a given initial to a given final value. The example is interesting for its role in experiments at ultra-low temperatures and for probing finite-time versions of the third law of thermodynamics. It is also the simplest system displaying quantum friction, which represents loss mechanisms in any reversible prelude to a thermal process. The example leads to a new type of availability. It is also the first example of a minimum time for transitions between thermal states of a thermodynamic system.
Salamon
Peter
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Department of Mathematical Science, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA. salamon@sdsu.edu
Hoffmann
Karl Heinz
KH
Rezek
Yair
Y
Kosloff
Ronnie
R