Quantum engines and the range of the second law of thermodynamics in the noncommutative phase-space

TL;DR

This paper explores how noncommutative quantum mechanics influences quantum heat engines, showing that while NC effects modify efficiency, they do not violate the fundamental limits set by the second law of thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces testable schemes for quantum heat engines within noncommutative quantum mechanics and analyzes the impact of NC parameters on efficiency.

Findings

NC effects can be quantified as an effective magnetic field.

Efficiency is affected by NC parameters in specific cycles.

The Carnot efficiency remains unaffected by NC effects.

Abstract

Two testable schemes for quantum heat engines are investigated under the quantization framework of noncommutative (NC) quantum mechanics (QM). By identifying the phenomenological connection between the phase-space NC driving parameters and an effective external magnetic field, the NC effects on the efficiency coefficient, \mathcal{N} , of quantum engines can be quantified for two different cycles: an isomagnetic one and an isoenergetic one. In addition, paying a special attention to the quantum Carnot cycle, one notices that the inclusion of NC effects does not affect the maximal (Carnot) efficiency, \mathcal{N}^C, ratifying the robustness of the second law of thermodynamics.