Nonequilibrium Quantum Many-Body Rydberg Atom Engine

Carollo, Federico; Gambetta, Filippo M; Brandner, Kay; Garrahan, Juan P.; Lesanovsky, Igor

Abstract

The standard approach to quantum engines is based on equilibrium systems and on thermo-dynamic transformations between Gibbs states. However, non-equilibrium quantum systems offer enhanced experimental flexibility in the control of their parameters and, if used as engines, a more direct interpretation of the type of work they deliver. Here we introduce an out-of-equilibrium quantum engine inspired by recent experiments with cold atoms. Our system is connected to a single environment and produces mechanical work from many-body interparticle interactions arising between atoms in highly excited Rydberg states. As such, it is not a heat engine but an isothermal one. We perform many-body simulations to show that this system can produce work. The setup we introduce and investigate represents a promising platform for devising new types of microscopic machines and for exploring quantum effects in thermodynamic processes.

Citation

Carollo, F., Gambetta, F. M., Brandner, K., Garrahan, J. P., & Lesanovsky, I. (2020). Nonequilibrium Quantum Many-Body Rydberg Atom Engine. Physical Review Letters, 124(17), Article 170602. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.170602

• Journal Article Type: Letter
• Acceptance Date: Apr 14, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Publication Date: May 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 124
• Issue: 17
• Article Number: 170602
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.170602
• Keywords: General Physics and Astronomy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4295519
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.170602