title: Nanoelectromechanical Heat Engine Based on Electron-Electron Interaction.
abstract: We theoretically show that a nanoelectromechanical system can be mechanically actuated by a heat flow through it via an electron-electron interaction. In contrast to most known actuation mechanisms in similar systems, this new mechanism does not involve an electronic current nor external ac fields. Instead, the mechanism relies on deflection-dependent tunneling rates and a heat flow which is mediated by an electron-electron interaction while an electronic current through the device is prohibited by, for instance, a spin-valve effect. Therefore, the system resembles a nanoelectromechanical heat engine. We derive a criterion for the mechanical instability and estimate the amplitude of the resulting self-sustained oscillations. Estimations show that the suggested phenomenon can be studied using available experimental techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 1, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vikström
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 1, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Prospect Nauky 47, Kharkov 61103, Ukraine.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kulinich
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 1, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Gorelik