Two Coupled Double Quantum Dots Systems as an working substance for Heat Machines

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum heat machine based on coupled double quantum dots, analyzing different operational regimes and demonstrating the possibility of a quantum Otto engine influenced by electron tunneling effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum heat machine design using coupled double quantum dots and explores the impact of quantum tunneling on its operation.

Findings

Identification of various operational regimes of the quantum heat machine

Demonstration of a classically inconceivable Otto engine due to quantum tunneling effects

Analysis of the role of Coulomb coupling in the machine's performance

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual design for quantum heat machines using a pair of coupled double quantum dots (DQDs), each DQD with an excess electron to interact, as an working substance. We define a compression ratio as the ratio between the Coulomb couplings which describes the interaction between the electrons during the isochoric processes of the quantum Otto cycle and then we analyse the arising of different regimes of operations of our thermal machine. We also show how we can achieve a classically inconceivable Otto engine, when considering the effects due to the parameters related to the quantum tunneling of a single electron between each individual DQD.