Quantum Heat Transfer in a Harmonic Chain with a Dephasing Reservoir

The quantum heat transfer in a harmonic chain with a dephasing reservoir is investigated based on the master equation method. The incoming phonons from the thermal reservoir will be scattered back partially into the reservoir at the contact site, leading to the contact resistance. Dephasing in the harmonic chain suppresses the transmitting of scattered phonons into the harmonic chain. Then the heat flux in the chain is reduced by dephasing. However, the heat flux is symmetric to interchanging the reservoirs temperatures even with the dephasing. Therefore, the thermal rectification cannot be realized with pure dephasing only.