Relativistic Quantum Thermal Machine: Harnessing Relativistic Effects to Surpass Carnot Efficiency

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14183v1
• Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:17:14 GMT
• Title: Relativistic Quantum Thermal Machine: Harnessing Relativistic Effects to Surpass Carnot Efficiency
• Authors: Tanmoy Pandit, Pritam Chattopadhyay, Kaustav Chatterjee, Varinder Singh,
• Abstract summary: Motion induces Doppler reshaping of the reservoir spectra.<n>We numerically analyze families of efficiency-power curves.<n>Doppler reshaping alters the boundaries between heat-engine and refrigerator operation.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: We investigate a three-level maser quantum thermal machine in which the system-reservoir interaction is modeled via Unruh-DeWitt type coupling, with one or both reservoirs undergoing relativistic motion relative to the working medium. Motion induces Doppler reshaping of the reservoir spectra, modifying energy-exchange rates and enabling operation beyond the Carnot efficiency at finite power. We numerically analyze families of efficiency-power curves and extract the analytic form of a generalized Carnot bound, which recovers the Carnot limit. In addition, Doppler reshaping alters the boundaries between heat-engine and refrigerator operation, making it possible to extract positive work even in the absence of a temperature gradient. These findings establish relativistic motion as a genuine thermodynamic resource.

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