Boosting engine performance with Bose-Einstein condensation*

At low-temperatures a gas of bosons will undergo a phase transition into a quantum state of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), in which a large fraction of the particles will occupy the ground state simultaneously. We explore the performance of an endoreversible Otto cycle operating with a harmonically confined Bose gas as the working medium. We analyze the engine operation in three regimes, with the working medium in BEC phase, in the gas phase, and driven across the BEC transition during each cycle. We find that the unique properties of the BEC phase allow for enhanced engine performance, including increased power output and higher efficiency at maximum power.