Finite-time quantum measurement cooling beyond the Carnot limit

TL;DR

This paper introduces a finite-time quantum measurement-based cooler that surpasses the Carnot efficiency by utilizing measurement feedback, challenging traditional thermodynamic limits while remaining consistent with the laws of thermodynamics.

Contribution

It presents a novel quantum cooling cycle model driven by measurement feedback that can exceed the Carnot limit without violating thermodynamics.

Findings

Measurement feedback enables heat transfer from cold to hot bath without work.

Maximum coefficient of performance exceeds Carnot limit.

Generalized Clausius inequality explains the thermodynamic consistency.

Abstract

We proposed the finite-time cycle model of a measurement-based quantum cooler, where invasive measurement provides the power to drive the cooling cycle. Such a cooler may be regarded as an alternative thought experiment of Mawell's demon. The measurement-feedback information is capable of moving heat from the cold to hot bath without any work input and even making the maximum coefficient of performance larger than the Carnot limit. The causes that this seemingly paradoxical result does not violate the laws of thermodynamics can be clearly explained through the derivation of a generalized Clausius inequality including the mutual information.