Heat rectification with a minimal model of two harmonic oscillators

TL;DR

This paper presents a minimal linear model of two harmonic oscillators with laser-induced baths that demonstrates heat rectification through asymmetric heat transport when temperatures and couplings are exchanged.

Contribution

It provides analytic expressions for heat currents in a simple harmonic oscillator system showing rectification due to temperature-dependent bath couplings.

Findings

Heat rectification occurs in the linear oscillator model.

Asymmetry arises when both bath temperatures and couplings are exchanged.

Analytic formulas for steady-state heat currents are derived.

Abstract

We study heat rectification in a minimalistic model composed of two masses subjected to on-site and coupling linear forces in contact with effective Langevin baths induced by laser interactions. Analytic expressions of the heat currents in the steady state are spelled out. Asymmetric heat transport is found in this linear system if both the bath temperatures and the temperature dependent bath-system couplings are also exchanged.