Thermodynamics of a minimal algorithmic cooling refrigerator

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We investigate, theoretically and experimentally, the thermodynamic performance of a minimal three-qubit heat-bath algorithmic cooling refrigerator.

• We analytically compute the coefficient of performance, the cooling power and the polarization of the target qubit for an arbitrary number of cycles, taking realistic experimental imperfections into account.
• We determine their fundamental upper bounds in the ideal reversible limit and show that these values may be experimentally approached using a system of three qubits in a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond.