A quantum heat engine driven by atomic collisions

Quentin Bouton, Jens Nettersheim, Sabrina Burgardt, Daniel Adam, Eric Lutz and Artur Widera ()
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Quentin Bouton: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Jens Nettersheim: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Sabrina Burgardt: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Daniel Adam: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Eric Lutz: University of Stuttgart
Artur Widera: Technische Universität Kaiserslautern

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Quantum heat engines are subjected to quantum fluctuations related to their discrete energy spectra. Such fluctuations question the reliable operation of thermal machines in the quantum regime. Here, we realize an endoreversible quantum Otto cycle in the large quasi-spin states of Cesium impurities immersed in an ultracold Rubidium bath. Endoreversible machines are internally reversible and irreversible losses only occur via thermal contact. We employ quantum control to regulate the direction of heat transfer that occurs via inelastic spin-exchange collisions. We further use full-counting statistics of individual atoms to monitor quantized heat exchange between engine and bath at the level of single quanta, and additionally evaluate average and variance of the power output. We optimize the performance as well as the stability of the quantum heat engine, achieving high efficiency, large power output and small power output fluctuations.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22222-z

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