We show in a simple exactly solvable toy model that a properly designed impulse perturbation can transiently cool down low-energy degrees of freedom at the expense of high-energy ones that heat up. The model consists of two infinite-range quantum Ising models: one, the high-energy sector, with a transverse field much bigger than the other, the low-energy sector. The finite-duration perturbation is a spin exchange that couples the two Ising models with an oscillating coupling strength. We find a cooling of the low-energy sector that is optimized by the oscillation frequency in resonance with the spin exchange excitation. After the perturbation is turned off, the Ising model with a low transverse field can even develop a spontaneous symmetry breaking despite being initially above the critical temperature.

• Received 16 January 2018
• Revised 21 March 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.220601