Characterizing the Carnot cycles at absolute zero: a reply to “Comment on ‘Proof of the Nernst theorem’”

Abstract

Abstract This reply addresses a recent comment concerning the proof of the Nernst theorem. I clarify how a Carnot engine can consistently operate at $$T=0$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> through a continuous deformation of a cycle operating at $$T&gt;0$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> <mml:mo>&gt;</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . 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.