Related papers: Reaching optimal efficiencies using nano-sized pho…
We examine the efficiency of an effective two-terminal thermoelectric device under broken time-reversal symmetry. The setup is derived from a three-terminal thermoelectric device comprising a thermal terminal and two electronic contacts,…
Inhomogeneously doped thermoelectric nanomaterials with a delta-function electronic density of states can operate with Carnot efficiency in the absence of phonon heat leaks. Here we self-consistently calculate the efficiency and power from…
Topological photonic systems, with their ability to host states protected against disorder and perturbation, allow us to do with photons what topological insulators do with electrons. Topological photonics can refer to electronic systems…
We present photocurrent power-enhancement calculations of a carbon nanotube p-n junction electromagnetically coupled to a highly-efficient photonic structure. Particular attention is paid to a GaAs photonic structure specifically modified…
Modern nanophotonic and meta-optical devices utilize a tremendous number of structural degrees of freedom to enhance light--matter interactions. A fundamental question is how large such enhancements can be. We develop an analytical…
A quantum emitter efficiently coupled to a nanophotonic waveguide constitutes a promising system for the realization of single-photon transistors, quantum-logic gates based on giant single-photon nonlinearities, and high bit-rate…
The theoretical maximum efficiency of a solar cell is typically characterized by a detailed balance of optical absorption and emission for a semiconductor in the limit of unity radiative efficiency and an ideal step-function response for…
Near-field thermal radiation transfer overcoming the far-field blackbody limit has attracted significant attention in recent years owing to its potential for drastically increasing the output power and conversion efficiency of…
We report on sub-cycle terahertz light-field emission of electrons from tungsten nanotips under extreme conditions corresponding to a Keldysh parameter $\gamma_K\approx10^{-4}$. Local peak THz fields up to 40~GV/m are achieved at the apex…
During recent years, microelectronics helped to develop complex and varied technologies. It appears that many of these technologies can be applied successfully to realize Seebeck micro generators: photolithography and deposition methods…
Optimally-chiral electromagnetic fields with maximized helicity density, recently introduced in [1], enable chirality characterization of optically small nanoparticles. Here, we demonstrate a technique to obtain optimally-chiral nearfields…
Universal properties of efficiency at maximum power are investigated in a general setting. In particular, it is demonstrated how successive symmetries placed upon the dynamics manifest themselves at the macroscopic level. A general…
We study the ratio between the variances of work output and heat input, $\eta^{(2)}$, for a class of four-stroke heat engines which covers various typical cycles. Recent studies on the upper and lower bounds of $\eta^{(2)}$ are based on the…
Our group has recently developed a finite element model of a nanoparticle-mediated optical breakdown phenomena. Previously, this model was used to analyze the role of the nanoparticle morphology and the wavelength dependence of a…
Mechanisms to use nanoparticles to separate sunlight into photovoltaic useful range and thermally useful range to increase the efficiency of solar cells and to dissipate heat radiatively are discussed based upon lessons we learnt from…
The spatial collection efficiency portrays the driving forces and loss mechanisms in photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical devices. It is defined as the fraction of photogenerated charge carriers created at a specific point within the…
Frequency up-conversion of a few low-energy photons into a single high-energy photon contributes to imaging, light sources, and detection. However, the up-converting of many photons exhibits negligible efficiency. Up-conversion through…
One of the principal objectives of quantum thermodynamics is to explore quantum effects and their potential beneficial role in thermodynamic tasks like work extraction or refrigeration. So far, even though several papers have already shown…
Engineering the directionality and emission rate of quantum light sources is essential in the development of modern quantum applications.In this work we use numerical calculations to optimize the brightness of a broadband quantum emitter…
In a recent Letter [EPL, 118 (2017) 40003], Polettini and Esposito claimed that it is theoretically possible for a thermodynamic machine to achieve Carnot efficiency at divergent power output through the use of infinitely-fast processes. It…