Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets

Details Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets

2009-09-18

arxiv.org/abs/0909.3381v1

published in Phys. Rev. E 80, 061115 (2009)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics

9 pages, 8 figures

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevE.80.061115

We explore heat transfer in molecular junctions between two leads in the absence of a finite net thermal bias. The application of an unbiased, time-periodic temperature modulation of the leads entails a dynamical breaking of reflection symmetry, such that a directed heat current may emerge (ratchet effect). In particular, we consider two cases of adiabatically slow driving, namely (i) periodic temperature modulation of only one lead and (ii) temperature modulation of both leads with an ac driving that contains a second harmonic, thus generating harmonic mixing. Both scenarios yield sizeable directed heat currents which should be detectable with present techniques. Adding a static thermal bias, allows one to compute the heat current-thermal load characteristics which includes the ratchet effect of negative thermal bias with positive-valued heat flow against the thermal bias, up to the thermal stop-load. The ratchet heat flow in turn generates also an electric current. An applied electric stop-voltage, yielding effective zero electric current flow, then mimics a solely heat-ratchet-induced thermopower (``ratchet Seebeck effect''), although no net thermal bias is acting. Moreover, we find that the relative phase between the two harmonics in scenario (ii) enables steering the net heat current into a direction of choice.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Molecular wires acting as quantum heat ratchets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-276359