Abstract
We discuss the reversibility of the Brownian heat engine. We perform an asymptotic analysis of the Kramers equation on a Büttiker-Landauer system and show quantitatively that Carnot efficiency is unattainable even in the fully overdamped limit. The unattainability is attributed to inevitable irreversible heat flow over the temperature boundary.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6021-6025 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics