Nonlinear heat conduction in Coulomb-blockaded quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonlinear heat conduction in Coulomb-blockaded quantum dots, revealing how voltage and temperature biases influence heat flow, Peltier effects, and reciprocity relations beyond linear response.

Contribution

It provides new insights into nonlinear thermoelectric effects and deviations from Kelvin-Onsager reciprocity in quantum dots under Coulomb blockade.

Findings

Nonlinear Peltier effect dominated by Joule heating at high voltages

Thermal conductance exhibits maxima or minima depending on energy level

Departures from Kelvin-Onsager reciprocity beyond linear response

Abstract

We analyze the heat current flowing across interacting quantum dots within the Coulomb blockade regime. Power can be generated by either voltage or temperature biases. In the former case, we find nonlinear contributions to the Peltier effect that are dominated by conventional Joule heating for sufficiently high voltages. In the latter case, the differential thermal conductance shows maxima or minima depending on the energy level position. Furthermore, we discuss departures from the Kelvin-Onsager reciprocity relation beyond linear response.