Quantum refrigeration cycles using spin-1/2 systems as the working substance.

The cycle model of a quantum refrigerator composed of two isothermal and two isomagnetic field processes is established. The working substance in the cycle consists of many noninteracting spin-1/2 systems. The performance of the cycle is investigated, based on the quantum master equation and semigroup approach. The general expressions of several important performance parameters, such as the coefficient of performance, cooling rate, and power input, are given. Especially, the case at high temperatures is analyzed in detail. The results obtained are further generalized and discussed, so that they may be directly used to describe the performance of the quantum refrigerator using spin-J systems as the working substance. Finally, the optimum characteristics of the quantum Carnot refrigerator are derived simply.