title: Otto engine beyond its standard quantum limit.
abstract: We propose a quantum Otto cycle based on the properties of a two-level system in a realistic out-of-thermal-equilibrium electromagnetic field acting as its sole reservoir. This steady configuration is produced without the need of active control over the state of the environment, which is a noncoherent thermal radiation, sustained only by external heat supplied to macroscopic objects. Remarkably, even for nonideal finite-time transformations, it largely over-performs the standard ideal Otto cycle and asymptotically achieves unit efficiency at finite power.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, F-34095 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leggio
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, F-34095 Montpellier, France.|Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antezza