Controlling local thermal states in classical many-body systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for actively controlling local thermal states in non-reciprocal many-body systems, enabling targeted thermal management, insulation, and synchronization with minimal energy or time costs.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical approach for controlling local thermal states in complex many-body systems, including conditions for minimal energy and time relaxation.

Findings

Established conditions for minimal energy thermal relaxation.

Derived criteria for prescribed temperature relaxation.

Analyzed heat exchange in radiative systems.

Abstract

The process of thermalization in many-body systems is driven by complex interactions among sub-systems and with the surrounding environment. Here we lay the theoretical foundations for the active control of local thermal states in arbitrary non-reciprocal systems close to their equilibrium state. In particular we describe how to (i) force some part of the system to evolve according to a prescribed law during the relaxation process (i.e. thermal targeting probem), (ii) insulate some elements from the rest of the system or (iii) synchronize their evolution during the relaxation process. We also derive the general conditions a system must fulfill in order that some parts relax toward a minimal temperature with a minimum energetic cost or relax toward a prescribed temperature with a minimum time. Finally, we consider several representative examples in the context of systems exchanging heat radiatively.