An autonomous feedback protocol: responding to temperature and potential changes in energy converters

Abstract

Nanoscale thermoelectric devices convert tiny amounts of heat into power. But what happens if the external conditions and resulting temperature differences are not a priori known? We propose a feedback mechanism that optimizes the performance of a quantum-point-contact-based heat engine (QPC). A quantum-dot detector measures the external conditions and gives autonomous feedback on the QPC's properties. We expect this feedback mechanism to be experimentally relevant for steady-state engines with unknown external conditions and for adapting dynamic charging processes to the potential buildup.