arXiv subjects

Ruo-Xun Zhai

Publications and source records attributed to Ruo-Xun Zhai.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Quantum Thermodynamic Integrability for Canonical and non-Canonical Statistics

We extend the Carathéodory principle of the Second Law to quantum thermodynamics with energy levels depending on macroscopic variables, such as volume and magnetic field. This extension introduces the concept of Quantum Thermodynamic Integrability (QTI), offering an alternative foundation for statistical mechanics. QTI is characterized by the path-independence of work and heat within the thermodynamic manifold, which is locally described by energy levels and specific thermodynamic parameters. Within this framework, temperature naturally emerges as an integrating factor, allowing for the derivation of both canonical and non-canonical states from the Entropy Integrable Equations (EIE) based on QTI. Notably, non-canonical states, which become particularly significant outside the thermodynamic limit, reveal the existence of informational correlations in finite-size thermodynamic systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2025

Power-Efficiency Constraint for Chemical Motors

Chemical gradients provide the primordial energy for biological functions by driving the mechanical movement of microscopic engines. Their thermodynamic properties remain elusive, especially concerning the dynamic change in energy demand in biological systems. In this article, we derive a constraint relation between the output power and the conversion efficiency for a chemically fueled steady-state rotary motor analogous to the $\mathrm{F}_o$ motor of ATPase. We find that the efficiency at maximum power is half of the maximum quasi static efficiency. These findings shall aid in the understanding of natural chemical engines and inspire the manual design and control of chemically fueled microscale engines.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2022

Geodesic bound of the minimum energy expense to achieve membrane separation within finite time

To accomplish a task within limited operation time typically requires an excess expense of energy, whose minimum is of practical importance for the optimal design in various applications, especially in the industrial separation of mixtures for purification of components. Technological progress has been made to achieve better purification with lower energy expense, yet little is known about the fundamental limit on the least excess energy expense in finite operation time. We derive such a limit and show its proportionality to the square of a geometric distance between the initial and final states and inverse proportionality to the operation time $τ$. Our result demonstrates that optimizing the separation protocol is equivalent to finding the geodesic curve in a geometric space. Interestingly, we show the optimal control with the minimum energy expense is achieved by a symmetry-breaking protocol, where the two membranes are moved toward each other with different speeds.

math.OC↗

arXiv2022

Experimental implementation of finite-time Carnot cycle

The Carnot cycle is a prototype of ideal heat engine to draw mechanical energy from the heat flux between two thermal baths with the maximum efficiency, dubbed as the Carnot efficiency $η_{\mathrm{C}}$. Such efficiency can only be reached by thermodynamical equilibrium processes with infinite time, accompanied unavoidably with vanishing power - energy output per unit time. In real-world applications, the quest to acquire high power leads to an open question whether a fundamental maximum efficiency exists for finite-time heat engines with given power. We experimentally implement a finite-time Carnot cycle with sealed dry air as working substance and verify the existence of a tradeoff relation between power and efficiency. Efficiency up to $(0.524\pm0.034)η_{\mathrm{C}}$ is reached for the engine to generate the maximum power, consistent with the theoretical prediction $η_{\mathrm{C}}/2$. Our results shall provide a new platform for studying finite-time thermodynamics consisting of nonequilibrium processes.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2021

Quantum Zeno Effect in Heisenberg Picture and Critical Measurement Time

Quantum Zeno effect is conventionally interpreted by the assumption of the wave-packet collapse, in which does not involve the duration of measurement. However, we predict duration $τ_m$ of each measurement will appear in quantum Zeno effect by a dynamical approach. Moreover, there exists a model-free critical measurement time, which quantum Zeno effect does not occur when $τ_m$ takes some special values. In order to give these predictions, we first present a description of quantum Zeno effect in the Heisenberg picture, which is based on the expectation value of an observable and its fluctuation. Then we present a general proof for quantum Zeno effect in the Heisenberg picture, which is independent of the concrete systems. Finally, we calculate the average population and relative fluctuation after $N$ successive measurements in XX model, which agrees with our prediction about the critical measurement time.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Experimental validation of the $1/τ$ -scaling entropy generation in finite-time thermodynamics with dry air

The second law of thermodynamics can be described as the non-decreasing of the entropy in the irreversible thermodynamic process. Such phenomenon can be quantitatively evaluated with the irreversible entropy generation (IEG), which was recently found to follow a $1/τ$ scaling for the system under a long contact time $τ$ with the thermal bath. This scaling, predicted in many finite-time thermodynamic models, is of great potential in the optimization of heat engines, yet remains lack of direct experimental validation. In this letter, we design an experimental apparatus to test such scaling by compressing dry air in a temperature-controlled water bath. More importantly, we quantitatively verify the optimized control protocol to reduce the IEG. Such optimization shall bring new insight to the practical design of heat engine cycles.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗