Molecular heat pump

Dvira Segal*, Abraham Nitzan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

148 Scopus citations

Abstract

We propose a molecular device that pumps heat against a thermal gradient. The system consists of a molecular element connecting two thermal reservoirs that are characterized by different spectral properties. The pumping action is achieved by applying an external force that periodically modulates molecular levels. This modulation affects periodic oscillations of the internal temperature of the molecule and the strength of its coupling to each reservoir resulting in a net heat flow in the desired direction. The heat flow is examined in the slow and fast modulation limits and for different modulation wave forms, thus making it possible to optimize the device performance.

Original languageEnglish
Article number026109
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume73
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

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