Extracting energy from non-equilibrium fluctuations without using information

Abstract

Extracting energy from fluctuations has been an everlasting endeavor. An important strategy is to use information-based operation, which allows energy extraction even from thermal fluctuations. However, it remains unclear whether a blind external operation, ignorant of such fluctuations, will also work. Assuming such a small operation, we find that energy extraction requires a negative response spectrum in a certain frequency region, which inevitably requires an internal power source to maintain. Energy is then extracted by operating the system at these frequencies. Negative response is intrinsic to any system that adapts to a slow external operation, which could be realized through integral feedback control. These are demonstrated through a solvable model.