title: Efficiency of single-particle engines.
abstract: We study the efficiency of a single-particle Szilard and Carnot engine. Within a first order correction to the quasistatic limit, the work distribution is found to be Gaussian and the correction factor to average work and efficiency only depends on the piston speed. The stochastic efficiency is studied for both models and the recent findings on efficiency fluctuations are confirmed numerically. Special features are revealed in the zero-temperature limit.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Hasselt University, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Proesmans
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Hasselt University, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Driesen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Hasselt University, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cleuren
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Hasselt University, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck