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For the same initial state, compression ratio and constant-volume heat input, the ideal Atkinson cycle adds net work during the extended expansion and subsequent constant-pressure return. The extra work is the integral of $p_{\mathrm{expansion}}-p_1$ over the added volume, which is positive. Equivalently, concavity of $x^{1/\gamma }$ gives $\gamma (r_p^{1/\gamma }-1)<r_p-1$ when $r_p>1$ and $\gamma >1$, so its efficiency exceeds the corresponding Otto cycle efficiency. The comparison fixes these shared conditions rather than asserting universal superiority under arbitrary engine constraints.

In the $(p,V)$ plane, the Otto cycle consists of:

It is a clockwise loop, so its enclosed area is the positive net work output. In the $(T,S)$ plane, the two reversible adiabats $A\to B$ and $C\to D$ are vertical constant-entropy segments. Constant-volume heating $B\to C$ moves upward and to the right, while constant-volume cooling $D\to A$ moves downward and to the left.

LetThe two adiabatic relations giveBecause heat is exchanged at constant volume,where $Q_2$ denotes the positive amount rejected. HenceThe thermal efficiency is thereforeFor a fixed gas, $\gamma$ is fixed and the idealized efficiency increases monotonically with the compression ratio $r$, so it is maximized by making $r$ as large as the physical constraints allow.

A heat engine's thermal efficiency is net work out divided by heat absorbed,where both heat quantities are positive magnitudes. The last equality follows from the first law over a complete cycle.

Use $n$ moles of an ideal gas with constant molar $C_V,C_p$ and $\gamma =C_p/C_V>1$. For the Otto cycle, reversible adiabats give $T_2=T_1{r}^{\gamma -1}$ and $T_3/T_4=r^{\gamma -1}$. Isochoric heat input and rejection are $Q_{\mathrm{in}}=n{C}_V(T_3-T_2)$ and $Q_{\mathrm{out}}=n{C}_V(T_4-T_1)$. ThereforeThe denominator's temperature difference is $r^{\gamma -1}$ times the numerator's difference.

For the ideal Atkinson cycle, heating at fixed volume gives $T_3/T_2=r_p$. The longer expansion ends when $p_{4^{\prime }}=p_1$. Combining the adiabatic pressure–temperature relation with $p_2/p_1=r^{\gamma }$ yieldsAlso $V_{4^{\prime }}=V_1{r}_p^{1/\gamma }>V_1$ for $r_p>1$. The PDF asks explicitly for $T_3,T_{4^{\prime }}$; the transcription additionally names $T_2$, which is supplied above too.

Heat input remains $n{C}_V{T}_1{r}^{\gamma -1}(r_p-1)$, while the isobaric return rejects $n{C}_p{T}_1(r_p^{1/\gamma }-1)$. Hence the Atkinson efficiency advantage from extended expansion is quantified byCompare cycles with the same initial state, compression ratio and heat input. The extra expansion and constant-pressure return enclose positive extra work,It uses heat that the Otto cycle would reject, while $Q_{\mathrm{in}}$ is unchanged. Equivalently, concavity gives $\gamma (r_p^{1/\gamma }-1)<r_p-1$, so ${\eta }_A>{\eta }_O$ for $r_p>1$ under this matched comparison. This is an ideal-cycle result; the question's named real-engine application is not needed to establish it.