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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 June 2015
We consider energy transfer between non-equal nanoparticles mediated by a quantum system. The nanoparticles are considered as thermal reservoirs described as ensembles of finite numbers of harmonic oscillators within the Drude-Ullersma model having mode spacings Δ1 and Δ2. Our approach is based on the generalized quantum Langevin equation. The quasi-static energy transport between the thermal reservoirs is investigated. As is shown, the double degeneracy of the mode frequencies, which occurred in the previously considered case when Δ1 = Δ2, is removed in the present case of non-equal mode spacings. Equations describing long-time (t ∼1/Δ1,2) relaxation for the mode temperatures (or the ensemble averaged mode energies) are solved and the resulting expression for the total energy current between the nanoparticles is derived and explored.