Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
Volume 23, Issue 5, Pages 489-500Publisher
IOP PUBLISHING LTD
DOI: 10.1088/0143-0807/23/5/306
Keywords
-
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In 1824 Carnot established that the efficiency of cyclic engines operating between a hot bath at absolute temperature T-hot and a bath at a lower temperature T-cold cannot exceed 1 - T-cold/T-hot. We show that linear oscillators alternately in contact with hot and cold baths obey this principle in the quantum as well as classical regime. The expression of the work performed is derived from a simple prescription. Reversible and non-reversible cycles are illustrated. The paper begins with historical considerations and is essentially self-contained.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available