Orateur
Description
We study the thermodynamics of free-fermion systems coupled to quantum
thermal baths within a Markovian approximation. In particular, we construct
a four-stroke quantum Otto engine by alternately coupling such kind of
systems to two reservoirs at different temperatures and operating adiabatic
switches of some Hamiltonian parameters, followed by isochoric transformations.
We show that the engine can operate in four different modes; in particular it
can act as a heat engine and as a refrigerator, with thermodynamic
performances that are affected by the possible presence of quantum criticality
in the model. We also discuss the effects of non perfect thermalization with
the baths and of adiabatic processes which are executed in a finite width of time.
