Double quantum dot coupled to a quantum point contact: A stochastic thermodynamics approach

We study the nonequilibrium properties of an electronic circuit composed of a double quantum dot (DQD) channel capacitively coupled to a quantum point contact (QPC) within the framework of stochastic thermodynamics. We show that the transition rates describing the dynamics satisfy a nontrivial local detailed balance and that the statistics of energy and particle currents across both channels obeys a fluctuation theorem. We analyze two regimes where the device operates as a thermodynamic machine and study its output power and efficiency fluctuations. We show that the electrons tunneling through the QPC without interacting with the DQD have a strong effect on the device efficiency. © 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.