[en] We study the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of a single particle with two available energy levels, in contact
with a classical (Maxwell-Boltzmann) or quantum (Bose-Einstein) heat bath. The particle can undergo transitions
between the levels via thermal activation or deactivation. The energy levels are alternately raised at a given rate
regardless of occupation by the particle, maintaining a fixed energy gap equal to ε between them. We explicitly
calculate the work, heat, and entropy production rates. The efficiency in both the classical and the quantum case
goes to a limit between 100 and 50% that depends on the relative rates of particle transitions and level elevation.
In the classical problem we explicitly find the large deviation functions for heat, work, and internal energy.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Kumar, Niraj; University of California San Diego > 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and BioCircuits Institute
Van den Broeck, Christian; Hasselt University
Esposito, Massimiliano ; Université Libre de Bruxelles - ULB > Center for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems
Lindenberg, Katja; University of California San Diego > Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and BioCircuits Institute
