Heat engines are thermodynamic physical systems that convert heat energy into mechanical work by exploiting a temperature difference between a high-temperature heat source and a low-temperature heat sink. They operate cyclically, undergoing a sequence of thermodynamic processes (e.g., isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, or isochoric) that return the working substance to its initial state after each cycle. Their performance is characterized by thermal efficiency, defined as the ratio of net work output to heat input, and fundamentally limited by the Carnot efficiency, which depends solely on the reservoir temperatures and imposes an upper bound dictated by the second law of thermodynamics.
A study published in Physical Review Letters (PRL) details a "Gambling Carnot Engine" that researchers report can attain 100% efficiency while also improving power generation.
A research team led by Prof. Guo Bin from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has designed and optimized an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system specifically for recovering low-grade ...
Plasma Physics
Aug 4, 2025
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Electricity can be easily converted into heat—every electric cooker does it. But is the opposite also possible? Can heat be converted into electricity—directly, without a steam turbine or similar detours?
Condensed Matter
Jun 18, 2025
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Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) has stood as a promising potential alternative propulsion technology for decades. Chemical rockets have begun to reach their theoretical maximum efficiency, and their developers have switched ...
Space Exploration
May 28, 2025
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Challenging centuries-old assumptions about thermodynamics, a new study published in Physical Review Letters has shown that it is theoretically possible to design a heat engine that achieves maximum power output while approaching ...
Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity via light. Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, ...
Nanophysics
Nov 21, 2024
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Fusion energy has the potential to be an effective clean energy source, as its reactions generate incredibly large amounts of energy. Fusion reactors aim to reproduce on Earth what happens in the core of the sun, where very ...
Plasma Physics
Oct 21, 2024
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Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of ...
Nanophysics
Sep 17, 2024
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Heat engines, converting heat into useful work, are vital in modern society. With advances in nanotechnology, exploring quantum heat engines (QHEs) is crucial for designing efficient systems and understanding quantum thermodynamics.
Optics & Photonics
Sep 2, 2024
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The molecules that make up the matter around us are in constant motion. What if we could harness that energy and put it to use?
General Physics
Jun 6, 2024
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