Quantized refrigerator for an atomic cloud

• Main Authors: Wolfgang Niedenzu, Igor Mazets, Gershon Kurizki, Fred Jendrzejewski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Verein zur Förderung des Open Access Publizierens in den Quantenwissenschaften 2019-06-01
• Series: Quantum
• Online Access: https://quantum-journal.org/papers/q-2019-06-28-155/pdf/

We propose to implement a quantized thermal machine based on a mixture of two atomic species. One atomic species implements the working medium and the other implements two (cold and hot) baths. We show that such a setup can be employed for the refrigeration of a large bosonic cloud starting above and ending below the condensation threshold. We analyze its operation in a regime conforming to the quantized Otto cycle and discuss the prospects for continuous-cycle operation, addressing the experimental as well as theoretical limitations. Beyond its applicative significance, this setup has a potential for the study of fundamental questions of quantum thermodynamics.