Thermodynamics experiments on single-electron circuits and superconducting qubits

Pekola, J., Ivan M. Khaymovich

Classical and quantum electronic circuits provide ideal platforms to investigate stochastic thermodynamics, and they have served as a stepping stone to realize Maxwell's Demons with highly controllable protocols. In this article, we first review the central thermal phenomena in quantum nanostructures. Thermometry and basic refrigeration methods are described as enabling tools for thermodynamics experiments. Next, we discuss the role of information in thermodynamics that leads to the concept of Maxwell's Demon. Various Maxwell's Demons realized in single-electron circuits over the past couple of years are described. Currently, true quantum thermodynamics in superconducting circuits is a focus of attention, and we end the review by discussing the ideas and first experiments in this exciting area of research.

Jorden Senior, Alberto Ronzani, Bayan Karimi +5 more

J.P. Pekola, Ivan M. Khaymovich

Classical and quantum electronic circuits provide ideal platforms to investigate stochastic thermodynamics, and they have served as a stepping stone to realize Maxwell's Demons with highly controllable protocols. In this article, we first review the central thermal phenomena in quantum nanostructures. Thermometry and basic refrigeration methods are described as enabling tools for thermodynamics experiments. Next, we discuss the role of information in thermodynamics that leads to the concept of Maxwell's Demon. Various Maxwell's Demons realized in single-electron circuits over the past couple of years are described. Currently, true quantum thermodynamics in superconducting circuits is a focus of attention, and we end the review by discussing the ideas and first experiments in this exciting area of research.

Kater W. Murch

M. Foltyn, K. Norowski, Alexander M. Savin +1 more

We demonstrate complete control over dynamics of a single superconducting vortex in a nanostructure, which we coin the Single Vortex Box. Our device allows us to trap the vortex in a field-cooled aluminum nanosquare and expel it on demand with a nanosecond pulse of electrical current. Using the time-resolving nanothermometry we measure [Formula: see text] joules as the amount of the dissipated heat in the elementary process of the single-vortex expulsion. Our experiment enlightens the thermodynamics of the absorption process in the superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, in which vortices are perceived to be essential for a formation of a detectable hotspot. The demonstrated opportunity to manipulate a single superconducting vortex reliably in a confined geometry comprises a proof of concept of a nanoscale nonvolatile memory cell with subnanosecond write and read operations, which offers compatibility with quantum processors based either on superconducting qubits or on rapid single-flux quantum circuits.

Benjamin Huard