Quantum thermal machines: a simple scheme with realistic bath modelling

Gabriele De Chiara, Mauro Antezza

Xiao-Ming Li, Zhong‐Xiao Man, Yun‐Jie Xia

Patrick P. Potts, Jonatan Bohr Brask, Martí Perarnau-Llobet +1 more

We propose the use of a quantum thermal machine for low-temperature thermometry. A hot thermal reservoir coupled to the machine allows for simultaneously cooling the sample while determining its temperature without knowing the model-dependent coupling constants. In its most simple form, the proposed scheme works for all thermal machines that perform at Otto efficiency and can reach Carnot efficiency. We consider a circuit QED implementation that allows for precise thermometry down to ∼15 mK with realistic parameters. Based on the quantum Fisher information, this is close to the optimal achievable performance. This implementation demonstrates that our proposal is particularly promising in systems where thermalization between different components of an experimental setup cannot be guaranteed.

Paolo Andrea Erdman

Archak Purkayastha, Giacomo Guarnieri, Steve Campbell +2 more

We introduce unique class of cyclic quantum thermal machines (QTMs) which can maximize their performance at the finite value of cycle duration τ where they are most irreversible. These QTMs are based on single-stroke thermodynamic cycles realized by the non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) of the so-called Periodically Refreshed Baths (PReB) process. We find that such QTMs can interpolate between standard collisional QTMs, which consider repeated interactions with single-site environments, and autonomous QTMs operated by simultaneous coupling to multiple macroscopic baths. We discuss the physical realization of such processes and show that their implementation requires a finite number of copies of the baths. Interestingly, maximizing performance by operating in the most irreversible point as a function of τ comes at the cost of increasing the complexity of realizing such a regime, the latter quantified by the increase in the number of copies of baths required. We demonstrate this physics considering a simple example. We also introduce an elegant description of the PReB process for Gaussian systems in terms of a discrete-time Lyapunov equation. Further, our analysis also reveals interesting connections with Zeno and anti-Zeno effects.

Ryoko Hatakeyama, Akira Shimizu