Small thermal machines

          @misc{ scivideos_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 for Theoretical Physics},
            year = {2010},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:10110075 see, \url{https://scivideos.org/pirsa/10110075}}
          }
          

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.