Evading Thermodynamic Uncertainty Relations via Asymmetric Dynamic Protocols

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that thermodynamic uncertainty relations, which limit the precision of small-scale machines, can be bypassed using asymmetric dynamic protocols, challenging previous fundamental bounds.

Contribution

The authors show that TUR can be evaded with asymmetric time-reversal protocols, providing a new approach to surpassing thermodynamic precision limits.

Findings

TUR can be violated with asymmetric protocols

Model heat engine illustrates TUR evasion

Discusses connection between TUR and time-reversal symmetry

Abstract

Many versions of Thermodynamic Uncertainty Relations (TUR) have recently been discovered, which impose lower bounds on relative fluctuations of integrated currents in irreversible dissipative processes, and suggest that there may be fundamental limitations on the precision of small scale machines and heat engines. In this work we rigorously demonstrate that TUR can be evaded by using dynamic protocols that are asymmetric under time-reversal. We illustrate our results using a model heat engine using two-level systems, and also discuss heuristically the fundamental connections between TUR and time-reversal symmetry.