Thermodynamics of interacting systems: the role of the topology and collective effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the topology of interacting unicyclic machines influences their thermodynamic behavior, revealing that topology significantly affects performance at low energies but becomes less relevant at higher energies.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of different interaction topologies in thermodynamic systems, highlighting the impact of phase transitions on performance.

Findings

Topology affects thermodynamic performance at low energies.

First-order phase transitions are observed in certain topologies.

Results converge to all-to-all interaction behavior at high energies.

Abstract

We will study a class of system composed of interacting unicyclic machines placed in contact with a hot and cold thermal baths subjected to a non-conservative driving worksource. Despite their simplicity, these models showcase an intricate array of phenomena, including pump and heat engine regimes as well as a discontinuous phase transition. We will look at three distinctive topologies: a minimal and beyond minimal (homogeneous and heterogeneous interaction structures). The former case is represented by stark different networks ("all-to-all" interactions and only a central interacting to its neighbors) and present exact solutions, whereas homogeneous and heterogeneous structures have been analyzed by numerical simulations. We find that the topology plays a major role on the thermodynamic performance for smaller values of individual energies, in part due to the presence of first-order phase-transitions.Contrariwise, the topology becomes less important as individual energies increases and results are well-described by a system with all-to-all interactions.