Trends in photonic quantum heat engine studies

Abstract

The photonic heat engine has been researched as a combined area of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. The quantum coherence in the atomic heat source (like coal) drives the photonic working fluid (like steam) [1] has been shown to yield the usual Carnot efficiency. However, the Carnot bound can be overcome, and work can be extracted with a single thermal reservoir [1]. With collective matter-light interactions like superradiance, the efficiency can reach almost unity [2, 3]. Further related aspects, such as emergence of collective behavior in open systems far from equilibrium [4], are also considered. <br/> <br/> [1] M. Scully, M. Zubairy, G. Agarwal, and H. Walther, Science 299, 862 (2003). <br/> [2] M. Kim, A. Svidzinsky, and M. Scully, Nature Photonics 16, 368 (2022). <br/> [3] J. Kim, S. Oh, D. Yang, J. Kim, M. Lee and K. An, Nature Photonics 16, 707 (2022). <br/> [4] Z. Zhang, G. Agarwal, M. Scully Physical Review Letter 122, 158101 (2019).