Atomic switch for control of heat transfer in coupled cavities

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how embedding a two-level atom in coupled cavities enables control over heat transfer, including switching, rectification, and reversing heat flow direction, with potential violations of classical thermodynamic expectations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to manipulate heat transfer in coupled cavities using a dispersively interacting atom, achieving high rectification and control over heat flow direction.

Findings

Embedding a two-level atom enables switching between conducting and resisting heat transfer.

Tuning atomic and system parameters can reverse heat current direction.

High thermal rectification is achievable through cavity-reservoir and cavity-atom coupling adjustments.

Abstract

Controlled heat transfer and thermal rectification in a system of two coupled cavities connected to thermal reservoirs are discussed. Embedding a dispersively interacting two-level atom in one of the cavities allows switching from a thermally conducting to resisting behavior. By properly tuning the atomic state and system-reservoir parameters, direction of current can be reversed, which violates the second law of thermodynamics. It is shown that a large thermal rectification is achievable in this system by tuning the cavity-reservoir and cavity-atom couplings. Partial recovery of diffusive heat transport in an array of $N$ cavities containing one dispersively coupled atom is established.