Quantifying nonequilibrium thermodynamic operations in a multiterminal mesoscopic system
Fatemeh Hajiloo, Rafael Sánchez, Robert S. Whitney, Janine Splettstoesser
Abstract
This theoretical work studies a nanoscale machine that converts a nonequilibrium distribution (e.g., a mixture of hot and cold electrons) into useful work, with an efficiency that ``appears'' to exceed the Carnot efficiency. This is called an $N$-demon (''$N$'' for nonequilibrium) in analogy with a Maxwell demon. The authors show here that the laws of thermodynamics are not violated because the machine consumes the free energy of the nonequilibrium distribution. Why not use such machines to exploit the nonequilibrium distributions that are the ``waste'' output of other nanoscale device operations?
Topics & Concepts
Mesoscopic physicsNon-equilibrium thermodynamicsStatistical physicsPhysicsThermodynamic systemThermodynamicsCondensed matter physicsAdvanced Thermodynamics and Statistical MechanicsThermal Radiation and Cooling TechnologiesThermal properties of materials