High-dimensional Gaussian fields with isotropic increments seen through spin glasses

We study the free energy of a particle in (arbitrary) high-dimensional Gaussian random potentials with isotropic increments. We prove a computable saddle-point variational representation in terms of a Parisi-type functional for the free energy in the infinite-dimensional limit. The proofs are based on the techniques developed in the course of the rigorous analysis of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model with vector spins.Comment: 13 page

Minimal universal quantum heat machine

In traditional thermodynamics the Carnot cycle yields the ideal performance bound of heat engines and refrigerators. We propose and analyze a minimal model of a heat machine that can play a similar role in quantum regimes. The minimal model consists of a single two-level system with periodically modulated energy splitting that is permanently, weakly, coupled to two spectrally-separated heat baths at different temperatures. The equation of motion allows to compute the stationary power and heat currents in the machine consistently with the second-law of thermodynamics. This dual-purpose machine can act as either an engine or a refrigerator (heat pump) depending on the modulation rate. In both modes of operation the maximal Carnot efficiency is reached at zero power. We study the conditions for finite-time optimal performance for several variants of the model. Possible realizations of the model are discussed

Work and energy gain of heat-pumped quantized amplifiers

We investigate heat-pumped single-mode amplifiers of quantized fields in high-Q cavities based on non-inverted two-level systems. Their power generation is shown to crucially depend on the capacity of the quantum state of the field to accumulate useful work. By contrast, the energy gain of the field is shown to be insensitive to its quantum state. Analogies and differences with masers are explored