TY - JOUR

T1 - Strong Coupling Corrections in Quantum Thermodynamics

AU - Perarnau-Llobet, M.

AU - Wilming, H.

AU - Riera, A.

AU - Gallego, R.

AU - Eisert, J.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank I. Cirac, A. Molnar, and T. Shi for insightful discussions. We also thank P. Strasberg, G. Schaller, and D. Gelbwaser-Klimovsky for useful comments on the manuscript. H. W. acknowledges funding from the ERC (TAQ) and the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, M. P. L. from the Alexander von Humboldt foundation, R. G. from the DFG (GA 2184/2-1). J. E. thanks for support by the DFG (CRC 183, EI 519/7-1, EI 519/14-1), the ERC (TAQ), the EU (AQuS), and the Templeton Foundation. A. R. acknowledges the Spanish Ministry MINECO (National Plan 15 Grant: FISICATEAMO No. FIS2016-79508-P, SEVERO OCHOA No. SEV-2015-0522), Fundació Cellex, Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR Grant No. 2017 SGR 1341, SGR 875 and CERCA/Program), ERC AdG OSYRIS, EU FETPRO QUIC, and the CELLEX-ICFO-MPQ fellowship.

PY - 2018/3/22

Y1 - 2018/3/22

N2 - Quantum systems strongly coupled to many-body systems equilibrate to the reduced state of a global thermal state, deviating from the local thermal state of the system as it occurs in the weak-coupling limit. Taking this insight as a starting point, we study the thermodynamics of systems strongly coupled to thermal baths. First, we provide strong-coupling corrections to the second law applicable to general systems in three of its different readings: As a statement of maximal extractable work, on heat dissipation, and bound to the Carnot efficiency. These corrections become relevant for small quantum systems and vanish in first order in the interaction strength. We then move to the question of power of heat engines, obtaining a bound on the power enhancement due to strong coupling. Our results are exemplified on the paradigmatic non-Markovian quantum Brownian motion.

AB - Quantum systems strongly coupled to many-body systems equilibrate to the reduced state of a global thermal state, deviating from the local thermal state of the system as it occurs in the weak-coupling limit. Taking this insight as a starting point, we study the thermodynamics of systems strongly coupled to thermal baths. First, we provide strong-coupling corrections to the second law applicable to general systems in three of its different readings: As a statement of maximal extractable work, on heat dissipation, and bound to the Carnot efficiency. These corrections become relevant for small quantum systems and vanish in first order in the interaction strength. We then move to the question of power of heat engines, obtaining a bound on the power enhancement due to strong coupling. Our results are exemplified on the paradigmatic non-Markovian quantum Brownian motion.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044428729&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.120602

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.120602

M3 - Article

C2 - 29694098

AN - SCOPUS:85044428729

VL - 120

JO - Physical review letters

JF - Physical review letters

SN - 0031-9007

IS - 12

M1 - 120602

ER -