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The Struggles of Light Bound in Matter : Modelling Optical Excitations in Nanostructures

Kalaee, Alex Arash Sand LU (2021)
Abstract
This thesis addresses three different topics on the interaction between light and matter in open quantum systems. The first topic concerns two-dimensional spectroscopy and the spectral contributions from different nonlinear action signals with a focus on how to differentiate between them. The second topic concerns the thermalization of excited electrons in hot-carrier solar cells with a focus on how to optimize the quantum efficiency of extraction.
The third topic concerns quantum heat engines with two related foci: the fundamental nature of heat and work flow in quantum thermodynamics, as well as the relation between quantum-coherent dynamics and a thermodynamic quantum advantage compared to classical model systems. The thesis... (More)
This thesis addresses three different topics on the interaction between light and matter in open quantum systems. The first topic concerns two-dimensional spectroscopy and the spectral contributions from different nonlinear action signals with a focus on how to differentiate between them. The second topic concerns the thermalization of excited electrons in hot-carrier solar cells with a focus on how to optimize the quantum efficiency of extraction.
The third topic concerns quantum heat engines with two related foci: the fundamental nature of heat and work flow in quantum thermodynamics, as well as the relation between quantum-coherent dynamics and a thermodynamic quantum advantage compared to classical model systems. The thesis comprises four papers.

In Paper I we identify the qualitative differences between the ''true'' nonlinear spectral contributions and nonlinear incoherent mixing signals.

In Paper II we model the thermalization of excited carriers in a hot-carrier solar cell and quantify the second order Coulomb scattering in the systems.

In Paper III we compare two different definitions of work and heat flow in a three-level maser and salvage the second law of thermodynamics in the conventional definitions of work and heat.

In Paper IV we investigate the advantage of a quantum model over its classical counterpart in terms of the Thermodynamic Uncertainty Relation and illustrate how the steady-state quantum coherence is insufficient to describe the nature of this advantage. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Segal, Dvira, University of Toronto
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
open quantum systems, nanooptics, non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, quantum thermodynamics, Fysicumarkivet A:2021:Kalaee
edition
1
pages
172 pages
publisher
Media-Tryck, Lund University, Sweden
defense location
Rydbergsalen, Fysiska institutionen Join via zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/62346645132?pwd=M2oyZXpuVHk0eUY4RGtaTUJRanpPUT09 passcode 2020
defense date
2021-05-27 09:15:00
ISBN
9789178958320
9789178958313
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6a513ca3-8ba5-4e96-80c0-ed34f4d7669d
date added to LUP
2021-05-03 12:16:33
date last changed
2022-04-12 12:57:53
@phdthesis{6a513ca3-8ba5-4e96-80c0-ed34f4d7669d,
  abstract     = {{This thesis addresses three different topics on the interaction between light and matter in open quantum systems. The first topic concerns two-dimensional spectroscopy and the spectral contributions from different nonlinear action signals with a focus on how to differentiate between them. The second topic concerns the thermalization of excited electrons in hot-carrier solar cells with a focus on how to optimize the quantum efficiency of extraction.<br/>The third topic concerns quantum heat engines with two related foci: the fundamental nature of heat and work flow in quantum thermodynamics, as well as the relation between quantum-coherent dynamics and a thermodynamic quantum advantage compared to classical model systems. The thesis comprises four papers.<br/><br/>In Paper I we identify the qualitative differences between the ''true'' nonlinear spectral contributions and nonlinear incoherent mixing signals.<br/><br/>In Paper II we model the thermalization of excited carriers in a hot-carrier solar cell and quantify the second order Coulomb scattering in the systems.<br/><br/>In Paper III we compare two different definitions of work and heat flow in a three-level maser and salvage the second law of thermodynamics in the conventional definitions of work and heat.<br/><br/>In Paper IV we investigate the advantage of a quantum model over its classical counterpart in terms of the Thermodynamic Uncertainty Relation and illustrate how the steady-state quantum coherence is insufficient to describe the nature of this advantage.}},
  author       = {{Kalaee, Alex Arash Sand}},
  isbn         = {{9789178958320}},
  keywords     = {{open quantum systems; nanooptics; non-equilibrium statistical mechanics; quantum thermodynamics; Fysicumarkivet A:2021:Kalaee}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  publisher    = {{Media-Tryck, Lund University, Sweden}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{The Struggles of Light Bound in Matter : Modelling Optical Excitations in Nanostructures}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/97407713/Alex_Arash_Sand_Kalaee_full.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}