Speaker
Klaus Moelmer
Description
Klaus Moelmer
Heat engines and batteries: two stories with lessons from quantum optics
We study a simple model of an autonomous heat engines using tools and methods from quantum optics to go beyond the master equation and steady state density matrix of the system. Heat and work are not state functions in classical thermodynamics. In the same way they are not observables of a quantum engine, but they are naturally defined and their fluctuations are readily calculated by the theory of measurements in quantum optics and the quantum regression theorem.
Collective effects and superadiance have been promoted as mechanisms leading to genuine quantum advantages in many-body heat engines and energy storage devices. We show that superradiant engines and batteries have a peculiar feature, which may be relevant for their practical use in experiments: They age. i.e., their output power and charging capacity decrease over time. Like household electronics, to regain their full capacity they should be fully discharged at frequent intervals.
Heat engines and batteries: two stories with lessons from quantum optics
We study a simple model of an autonomous heat engines using tools and methods from quantum optics to go beyond the master equation and steady state density matrix of the system. Heat and work are not state functions in classical thermodynamics. In the same way they are not observables of a quantum engine, but they are naturally defined and their fluctuations are readily calculated by the theory of measurements in quantum optics and the quantum regression theorem.
Collective effects and superadiance have been promoted as mechanisms leading to genuine quantum advantages in many-body heat engines and energy storage devices. We show that superradiant engines and batteries have a peculiar feature, which may be relevant for their practical use in experiments: They age. i.e., their output power and charging capacity decrease over time. Like household electronics, to regain their full capacity they should be fully discharged at frequent intervals.
Primary author
Prof.
Klaus Moelmer
