PIRSA:10110075

Small thermal machines

Skrzypczyk, P. (2010). Small thermal machines. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/10110075

Skrzypczyk, Paul. Small thermal machines. Perimeter Institute, Nov. 23, 2010, https://pirsa.org/10110075 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:10110075,
            doi = {10.48660/10110075},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/10110075},
            author = {Skrzypczyk, Paul},
            keywords = {Quantum Foundations},
            language = {en},
            title = {Small thermal machines},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2010},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:10110075 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Paul Skrzypczyk University of Bristol

DOI 10.48660/10110075
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

The second law of thermodynamics tells that physics imposes a fundamental constraint on the efficiency of all thermal machines. Here I will address the question of whether size imposes further constraints upon thermal machines, namely whether there is a minimum size below which no machine can run, and whether when they are small if they can still be efficient? I will present a simple model which shows that there is no size limitation and no limit on the efficiency of thermal machine and that this leads to a unified view of small refrigerators, pumps and engines.