Shortcut-to-adiabaticity Otto engine: A twist to finite-time thermodynamics

Abstract

We consider a finite-time Otto engine operating on a quantum harmonic oscillator and driven by shortcut-to-adiabaticity (STA) techniques to speed up its cycle. We study its efficiency and power when internal friction, time-averaged work, and work fluctuations are used as quantitative figures of merit, showing that time-averaged efficiency and power are useful cost functions for the characterization of the performance of the engine. We then use the minimum allowed time for validity of STA protocol relation to establish a physically relevant bound to the efficiency at maximum power of the STA-driven cycle.