Unified trade-off optimization of one-qubit Novikov heat engines

Abstract

We study the similarities and differences between one-qubit Novikov quantum heat engines and classic Novikov heat engines. We find that they have similar power-efficiency curves but very different ecological function-efficiency curves. Our analysis shows that in quantum engines the maximum values of the power and ecological function, and the efficiencies at which they are produced depend on the thermal couplings and the energy of the qubit inducing the heat flux that makes the engine to work. We analyze the high-temperature limit of the quantum engines to understand better the similarities and differences between the classic and quantum Novikov heat engines.