Quantum Brayton Refrigeration Cycle with Finite-Size Bose–Einstein Condensates

Abstract

We consider a quantum Brayton refrigeration cycle consisting of two isobaric and two adiabatic processes, using an ideal Bose gas of finite particles confined in a harmonic trap as its working substance. Quite generally, such a machine falls into three different cases, classified as the condensed region, non-condensed phase, and regime across the critical point. When the refrigerator works near the critical region, both figure of merit and cooling load are significantly improved due to the singular behavior of the specific heat, and the coefficient of performance at maximum figure of merit is much larger than the Curzon–Ahlborn value. With the machine in the non-condensed regime, the coefficient of performance for maximum figure of merit agrees well with the Curzon–Ahlborn value.