title: Diode system rectifying thermal fluctuations.
abstract: We present an approach to the energetics of a diode based on the Langevin equation for an ideal RC circuit and establish a simple model consisting of two diodes switched in the same directions located in two heat reservoirs with different temperatures. We calculate the thermoelectric voltage and the efficiency of the diode system as a fluctuation rectifier and show the efficiency is always smaller than the Carnot value, thus, indicating the irreversible mode of operation. The Carnot efficiency is achieved only when the diode works as the normal resistor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Nanchang University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiuliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jizhou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He