Qubits as Regulators: Managing Quantum Heat Engines

Scientists from Aalto University are developing nano-sized quantum heat engines to explore their potential superiority over classical heat engines in terms of power and efficiency. Published in Nature Physics, the paper led by Professor Jukka Pekola addresses the challenge of how quantum systems interact and exchange energy with their macroscopic surroundings and internally.

The team aims to treat quantum information and thermodynamics on equal grounds in their research. They have devised a miniature heat valve in a quantum system using an artificial atom, a superconducting qubit, the fundamental unit of both quantum computing and quantum heat engines. The qubit, controlled by a magnetic field, acts as a valve to regulate the flow of photons carrying heat between two metallic resistor heat baths.

This breakthrough sheds light on the functioning of quantum heat engines, which convert heat into useful work or operate as refrigerators. The team continues to work on understanding the crossover between non-dissipative and fully dissipative systems in quantum refrigerators and heat engines.

This article is republished from PhysORG under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.