Quantum mechanical Carnot engine

Abstract

A cyclic thermodynamic heat engine runs most efficiently if it is reversible.\nCarnot constructed such a reversible heat engine by combining adiabatic and\nisothermal processes for a system containing an ideal gas. Here, we present an\nexample of a cyclic engine based on a single quantum-mechanical particle\nconfined to a potential well. The efficiency of this engine is shown to equal\nthe Carnot efficiency because quantum dynamics is reversible. The quantum heat\nengine has a cycle consisting of adiabatic and isothermal quantum processes\nthat are close analogues of the corresponding classical processes.\n