PreprintCC BY 4.0arXiv
Characterizing the Carnot cycle at absolute zero: a reply to "Comment on `Proof of the Nernst theorem' "
Abstract
This reply addresses a recent comment concerning the proof of the Nernst theorem. I clarify how a Carnot engine can consistently operate at T=0 through a continuous deformation of a cycle operating at T>0. By examining the limit where heat exchange with the cold reservoir vanishes, I show that the Nernst theorem ensures that the concept of temperature remains physically consistent at the absolute zero limit.
Versions
Related
- Intrinsic Orbital Nernst Effect in Real Photonic Bands
- Transport evidence for the orbital Nernst effect.
- Carnot Meets Quantum Information: A Thermal Machine Driven by Non-orthogonal State Discrimination
- Unbounded Work Extraction and Zero Work Fluctuations in a Super-Carnot Otto Information Engine
- Endoreversible Carnot machines with long-time reversible limit
BibTeX
@misc{martinolalla2026characterizing,
title = {{Characterizing the Carnot cycle at absolute zero: a reply to "Comment on `Proof of the Nernst theorem' "}},
author = {José-María Martín-Olalla},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.27561},
eprint = {2609.27561},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.27561},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Characterizing the Carnot cycle at absolute zero: a reply to "Comment on `Proof of the Nernst theorem' "
AU - José-María Martín-Olalla
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.27561
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.27561
AB - This reply addresses a recent comment concerning the proof of the Nernst theorem. I clarify how a Carnot engine can consistently operate at T=0 through a continuous deformation of a cycle operating at T>0. By examining the limit where heat exchange with the cold reservoir vanishes, I show that the Nernst theorem ensures that the concept of temperature remains physically consistent at the absolute zero limit.
ER -