Thermal rectification in quantum graded mass systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum graded mass systems exhibit thermal rectification due to quantum statistics, unlike their classical counterparts, indicating a potentially widespread phenomenon in quantum materials.

Contribution

The study provides an analytical demonstration of thermal rectification in quantum graded mass harmonic oscillator chains, highlighting quantum effects as the key factor.

Findings

Thermal rectification exists in quantum graded mass harmonic chains.

Classical analogs do not show rectification, emphasizing quantum effects.

Rectification may be a common feature in quantum graded mass materials.

Abstract

We show the existence of thermal rectification in the graded mass quantum chain of harmonic oscillators with self-consistent reservoirs. Our analytical study allows us to identify the ingredients leading to the effect. The presence of rectification in this effective, simple model (representing graded mass materials, systems that may be constructed in practice) indicates that rectification in graded mass quantum systems may be an ubiquitous phenomenon. Moreover, as the classical version of this model does not present rectification, our results show that, here, rectification is a direct result of the quantum statistics.