An Information-Theoretic Bound on Thermodynamic Efficiency and the Generalized Carnot's Theorem
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866910122896261120 |
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| author | Gabetti, Anna Dolcini, Fabrizio Girolami, Davide |
| author_facet | Gabetti, Anna Dolcini, Fabrizio Girolami, Davide |
| contents | We derive a bound on the efficiency of thermal engines that can be sharper than Carnot's limit. It is a function of statistical correlations between the engine internal state and Hamiltonian, can be saturated even in finite-time cycles, and applies to both classical and quantum engines. Specifically, the bound establishes the exact maximal efficiency of engines operating with multiple baths, tightening the upper limit set by Carnot's theorem. Then, we show that an engine made of a quantum dot coupled with fermionic baths can achieve the bound, even when operating beyond the quasistatic regime. The result provides a design principle for realistic energy harvesting machines. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_10762 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | An Information-Theoretic Bound on Thermodynamic Efficiency and the Generalized Carnot's Theorem Gabetti, Anna Dolcini, Fabrizio Girolami, Davide Quantum Physics Statistical Mechanics We derive a bound on the efficiency of thermal engines that can be sharper than Carnot's limit. It is a function of statistical correlations between the engine internal state and Hamiltonian, can be saturated even in finite-time cycles, and applies to both classical and quantum engines. Specifically, the bound establishes the exact maximal efficiency of engines operating with multiple baths, tightening the upper limit set by Carnot's theorem. Then, we show that an engine made of a quantum dot coupled with fermionic baths can achieve the bound, even when operating beyond the quasistatic regime. The result provides a design principle for realistic energy harvesting machines. |
| title | An Information-Theoretic Bound on Thermodynamic Efficiency and the Generalized Carnot's Theorem |
| topic | Quantum Physics Statistical Mechanics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10762 |