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arXiv:2510.13489 · Physical review. E

Quantum thermal diode with additional control by auxiliary atomic states

Qin Zhang, Zi-Chen Zhang, Yi‐jia Yang, Zheng Liu, Chang‐shui Yu

Published Oct 1, 2025• 3 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A quantum thermal diode, similar to an electronic diode, allows for unidirectional heat transmission. In this paper, we study a quantum thermal diode composed of two two-level atoms coupled to auxiliary two-level atoms. We find that while excited (ground-state) auxiliary atoms weaken (enhance) the heat current, the rectification is dictated by the left-right atomic frequency relationship. The more auxiliary atoms are coupled, the stronger the enhancing or weakening impact is. If the auxiliary atom is in a superposition state, we find that only the fraction that projects onto the excited state plays a significant role. In particular, if we properly design the coupling of the auxiliary atoms, the rectification effect can be eliminated. This provides the potential to control the heat current and the rectification performance by the states of the auxiliary atoms.

DOI
10.1103/m23x-8r74

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A quantum thermal diode, similar to an electronic diode, allows for unidirectional heat transmission. In this paper, we study a quantum thermal diode composed of two two-level atoms coupled to auxiliary two-level atoms. We find that while excited (ground-state) auxiliary atoms weaken (enhance) the heat current, the rectification is dictated by the left-right atomic frequency relationship. The more auxiliary atoms are coupled, the stronger the enhancing or weakening impact is. If the auxiliary atom is in a superposition state, we find that only the fraction that projects onto the excited state plays a significant role. In particular, if we properly design the coupling of the auxiliary atoms, the rectification effect can be eliminated. This provides the potential to control the heat current and the rectification performance by the states of the auxiliary atoms.
We present a quantum thermal diode model based on a coupled qutrit–qubit system designed to control heat flow between two thermal baths with unprecedented efficiency. This differs from previous models in terms of the asymmetry introduced by spin particles and their interaction. By exploiting the interactions between degenerate states within the coupled qutrit–qubit system, our model demonstrates diode-like behavior that is both robust and energy-efficient. Utilizing the frameworks of open quantum systems and the quantum Markovian master equation, with the Born and rotating wave approximations, we comprehensively analyze the system’s behavior. Numerical simulations reveal significant thermal rectification across a wide temperature range, positioning our model as a groundbreaking solution for nanoscale heat management. In addition, we employ state transition diagrams to elucidate the transition rate characteristics that underpin the diode behavior. Finally, we explore the potential for physical implementation using superconducting circuits, highlighting the practical relevance of our design.
Controlling heat flow in small quantum systems is a central goal of quantum thermodynamics and nanoscale transport. A key challenge is to achieve strong thermal rectification without suppressing the transmitted heat current, a tradeoff that often arises in static diode configurations. We establish a Floquet-control mechanism in a minimal quantum thermal diode formed by two longitudinally modulated Ising-coupled qubits, each coupled to an independent thermal reservoir. From a microscopic system--bath model, we derive a Floquet--LGKS master equation that resolves the drive-assisted transition channels. The resonant undriven device with left--right symmetric bath couplings serves as the reciprocal benchmark, while static detuning provides a rectifying reference with reduced heat current. Single-side driving breaks this reciprocal structure by creating a Floquet-dressed contact opposite a purely thermal contact. For this configuration, we obtain a compact steady-state current formula and an exact blocking condition for suppressing one bias direction while retaining finite transport in the opposite direction. In the weak sinusoidal-drive regime, rectification begins quadratically in the modulation amplitude. Dual-side driving adds a Floquet pumping contribution to the interaction-mediated current, so complete blocking requires cancellation of both contributions. These results establish contact-selective Floquet dressing as a design principle for controllable heat-flow asymmetry in minimal quantum thermal devices.
We put forward a quantum-optical model for a thermal diode based on heat transfer between two thermal baths through a pair of interacting qubits. We find that if the qubits are coupled by a Raman field that induces an anisotropic interaction, heat flow can become nonreciprocal and undergoes rectification even if the baths produce equal dissipation rates of the qubits, and these qubits can be identical, i.e., mutually resonant. The heat flow rectification is explained by four-wave mixing and Raman transitions between dressed states of the interacting qubits and is governed by a global master equation. The anisotropic two-qubit interaction is the key to the operation of this simple quantum thermal diode, whose resonant operation allows for high-efficiency rectification of large heat currents. Effects of spatial overlap of the baths are addressed. We discuss the possible realizations of the model in various platforms, including optomechanical setups, systems of trapped ions, and circuit QED.
A quantum thermal diode is designed based on three pairwise coupled qubits, two connected to a common reservoir and the other to an independent reservoir. It is found that the internal couplings between qubits can enhance heat currents. If the two identical qubits uniformly couple with the common reservoir, the crossing dissipation will occur, leading to the initial-state-dependent steady state, which can be decomposed into the mixture of two particular steady states: the heat-conducting state generating maximum heat current and the heat-resisting state not transporting heat. However, the rectification factor doesn't depend on the initial state. In particular, we find that neither quantum entanglement nor quantum discord is present in the steady state, but the pure classical correlation shows a remarkably consistent behavior as the heat rectification factor, which reveals the vital role of classical correlation in the system.
Quantum heat transport governs energy exchange processes and statistical laws in non-equilibrium quantum systems, and plays a pivotal role in quantum thermodynamics. We investigate the steady-state thermal transport of a noncommuting coupled spin system. We employ the quantum dressed master equation approach within the framework of open quantum system theory to accurately analyze the non-equilibrium dynamics, ensuring the validity of transport results in the strong coupling regime. Our results demonstrate that noncommuting spin coupling serves as a significant resource for modulating the nonlinearity of the heat current. Specifically, in the weak spin-coupling regime, the system exhibits robust negative differential thermal conductance (NDTC) across various spin numbers. By deriving analytical expressions for the heat current in both the single-spin and large-spin limits, we reveal that this NDTC behavior is governed by microscopic cycle fluxes. Physically, this arises because spin excitation channels induced by the cold reservoir are suppressed under a large temperature bias, thereby blocking energy exchange cycles. Conversely, in the strong spin-coupling and large temperature bias regime, the quantum system demonstrates pronounced thermal rectification. This high rectification efficiency originates from the unidirectional saturation of the heat current, rendering the system a promising candidate for high-performance thermal diodes. Furthermore, we extend the model to a three-terminal configuration to construct a quantum thermal transistor. By manipulating the temperature of the gate reservoir, we achieve efficient modulation and amplification of heat flow between the source and drain. The heat amplification factor is shown to far exceed unity in specific operating regions, confirming significant thermal amplification.
Abstract A quantum thermal diode based on strong dispersive coupling between a magnon and a qubit is proposed and analysed. The system utilizes a direct dispersive interaction that leads to asymmetric energy transitions, enabling controllable directional heat flow. Detailed numerical simulations demonstrate the occurrence of nearly perfect rectification under appropriate parameter conditions, with the rectification factor approaching unity in both resonant and off-resonant regimes. Results reveal that factors such as coupling strength, magnon anisotropy, and energy detuning significantly influence both heat current and rectification performance. While increased dispersive coupling enhances both heat transfer and rectification efficiency, purely coherent or combined coupling configurations are shown to degrade performance. Comparative analysis with existing thermal diode models highlights the superior performance of the proposed system, especially its ability to achieve nearly perfect rectification while maintaining appreciable heat currents. This work presents a feasible platform for designing efficient quantum heat management devices.