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arXiv:2512.18123

Quantum thermodynamics, quantum correlations and quantum coherence in accelerating Unruh-DeWitt detectors in both steady and dynamical state

Omar Bachain, Mohamed Amazioug, Rachid Ahl Laamara, Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar, Mohammed Zakarya, Gamal M. Ismail, Abdel-Haleem Abdel-Aty

quant-phSubmitted Dec 19, 2025• Announced Dec 23, 2025• 0 citations• Revised Jun 9, 2026 (v2)
v1 · Dec 19, 2025v2 · Jun 9, 2026
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Abstract

We investigate the interplay between quantum thermodynamics, quantum correlations, and quantum coherence within the framework of the Unruh-DeWitt (UdW) detector model. By analyzing both the steady and dynamical states of various quantum resources (including steerability, entanglement, quantum discord, and coherence), we study how these resources evolve under Markovian and non-Markovian environments. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of both the Unruh temperature and the energy levels on three key quantum phenomena: thermodynamic evolution, quantum correlations, and quantum coherence, considering different initial state preparations. The hierarchical structure relating quantum correlations and quantum coherence is determined. We further examine the thermodynamic performance of a quantum heat engine, highlighting the influence of memory effects and classical correlations on heat exchange, work extraction, and efficiency. Our results reveal that non-Markovian dynamics can enhance the preservation of quantum correlations and improve the engine's efficiency compared to purely Markovian regime. These findings provide insights into the role of quantum correlations and quantum coherence in quantum thermodynamic processes and open avenues for optimizing quantum devices operating in relativistic or open-system settings.

Comments
Eur. Phys. J. C (2026) 86:271

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Abstract We investigate the interplay between quantum thermodynamics, quantum correlations, and quantum coherence within the framework of the Unruh–DeWitt (UdW) detector model. By analyzing both the steady and dynamical states of various quantum resources-including steerability, entanglement, quantum discord, and coherence-we study how these resources evolve under Markovian and non-Markovian environments. Furthermore, the hierarchical structure relating quantum correlations and quantum coherence is established. We also examine the thermodynamic performance of a quantum heat engine, highlighting the influence of memory effects and classical correlations on heat exchange, work extraction, and efficiency.
Abstract We investigate quantum coherence, quantum correlations (steering, entanglement, and geometric quantum discord (GQD)), and quantum thermodynamics between two superconducting qubits, examining both steady and dynamical states. Our findings reveal that GQD is more robust to thermal effects than entanglement, which surpasses steerability in robustness. We also show that quantum correlations are more sensitive to thermal noise than coherence. The impact of coupling and Josephson energies on these quantum properties is analyzed. Moreover, we investigate these resources in Markovian and in non-Markovian regimes. Finally, we discuss and compare the extracted work and efficiency in relation to quantum coherence and correlations, focusing on the influence of thermal noise, Josephson energy, and coupling energy.
Abstract In many standard analyses of quantum thermodynamics, the system and its environment are assumed to be initially independent and free of any correlations. However, in many physical scenarios, initial system-environment correlations are unavoidable. In this work, we investigate the role of initial system-environment correlations in work extraction from open quantum systems. Furthermore, we examine the effects of these correlations and the nature of environmental dynamics on the evolution of coherence, coherence-based ergotropy, and total ergotropy. In both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes, we show that initial correlations directly influence the amount of ergotropy. We also demonstrate that in the non-Markovian regime, reducing the initial correlation enables optimal utilization of memory effects and maintains work extraction efficiency over longer time intervals. In contrast, in the Markovian regime, such correlations only accelerate the decay process without producing a revival of quantum resources; therefore, work extraction must be carried out within very short time intervals.
In this chapter, we examine how quantum coherence affects the effectiveness and performance of quantum Otto engines running in nonequilibrium conditions. Energy conversion on a quantum scale can be understood through the use of quantum Otto engines, which employ cyclic thermodynamic processes involving isochoric and adiabatic transformations. We examine how the ability to extract work from thermal reservoirs at different temperatures is impacted by preserving quantum coherence among the engine’s operating states. We investigate the dynamics of coherence under various nonequilibrium conditions and configurations, including changing temperatures and coupling strengths, using the Quantum Master Equation framework. According to our research, engines with improved quantum coherence perform noticeably better than their classical counterparts, allowing for higher efficiencies and more work extraction. We also explore optimization techniques and real-world applications for creating quantum heat engines that make use of coherence as a vital resource. The potential of coherent quantum states in powering next-generation energy systems is highlighted in this work, which connects theoretical developments in quantum thermodynamics with real-world applications.
Quantum thermodynamics studies how quantum systems and operations may be exploited as sources of work to perform useful thermodynamic tasks. In real-world conditions, the evolution of open quantum systems typically displays memory effects, resulting in a non-Markovian dynamics. The associated information backflow has been observed to provide advantage in certain thermodynamic tasks. However, a general operational connection between non-Markovianity and thermodynamics in the quantum regime has remained elusive. Here, we analyze the role of non-Markovianity in the central task of extracting work via thermal operations from general multitime quantum processes, as described by process tensors. By defining a hierarchy of four classes of extraction protocols, expressed as quantum combs, we reveal three different physical mechanisms (work investment, multitime correlations, and system-environment correlations) through which non-Markovianity increases the work distillable from the process. The advantages arising from these mechanisms are linked precisely to a quantifier of the non-Markovianity of the process. These results show in very general terms how non-Markovianity of any given quantum process is a fundamental resource that unlocks an enhanced performance in thermodynamics.
This paper explores quantum heat engines based on qubit and qutrit working media interacting with thermal environments through generalized amplitude damping (GAD) channels. We investigate how quantum channels can be employed to model heat absorption, dissipation, and work extraction in open quantum thermal machines, and derive the conditions required for positive work extraction. The effects of quantum correlations, emission probability, population redistribution, and system--environment interactions on the thermodynamic performance of the engine are systematically analyzed across different operational regimes. In addition, we examine the ergotropy of qubit and qutrit systems under dissipative dynamics to understand how environmental effects influence the maximum extractable work. Our results demonstrate that multilevel quantum systems exhibit enhanced work extraction capability and improved robustness against decoherence compared to two-level systems, providing further insight into the role of dissipative dynamics and quantum resources in realistic quantum thermodynamic devices.