Dynamic thermoelectric and heat transport in mesoscopic capacitors

Abstract

We discuss the low-frequency response of charge and heat transport to oscillatory voltage and temperature shifts in mesoscopic capacitors. We obtain within scattering theory generic expressions for the quantum admittances up to second order in the ac frequencies in terms of electric, thermoelectric and heat capacitances and relaxation resistances. Remarkably, we find that the thermocurrent can lead or lag the applied temperature depending on the gate voltage applied to a quantum $RC$ circuit. Furthermore, the relaxation resistance for cross terms becomes nonuniversal as opposed to the purely electric or thermal cases.