Power-Efficiency-Dissipation Relations in Linear Thermodynamics

We derive general relations between the maximum power, maximum efficiency, and minimum dissipation regimes from linear irreversible thermodynamics. The relations simplify further in the presence of a particular symmetry of the Onsager matrix, which can be derived from detailed balance. The results a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 116; no. 22; p. 220601
Main Authors Proesmans, Karel, Cleuren, Bart, Van den Broeck, Christian
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 03.06.2016
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Summary:We derive general relations between the maximum power, maximum efficiency, and minimum dissipation regimes from linear irreversible thermodynamics. The relations simplify further in the presence of a particular symmetry of the Onsager matrix, which can be derived from detailed balance. The results are illustrated on a periodically driven system and a three-terminal device subject to an external magnetic field.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.220601