Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies

The impact of quantum mechanics on thermodynamics, particularly on the principles and designs of heat machines (HMs), has been limited by the incompatibility of quantum coherent evolution with the dissipative, open-system nature of all existing HMs and their basic structure, which has not been radic...

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Main Authors: Gershon Kurizki, Nilakantha Meher, Tomáš Opatrný
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-03-01
Series:APL Quantum
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0242787
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author Gershon Kurizki
Nilakantha Meher
Tomáš Opatrný
author_facet Gershon Kurizki
Nilakantha Meher
Tomáš Opatrný
author_sort Gershon Kurizki
collection DOAJ
description The impact of quantum mechanics on thermodynamics, particularly on the principles and designs of heat machines (HMs), has been limited by the incompatibility of quantum coherent evolution with the dissipative, open-system nature of all existing HMs and their basic structure, which has not been radically changed since Carnot. We have recently proposed a paradigm change whereby conventional HM functionality is replaced by few-mode coherent, closed systems with nonlinear, e.g., cross-Kerr, inter-mode couplings. These couplings allow us to coherently filter incident thermal noise, transforming it into a resource of work and information. Current technological advances enable heat engines, noise sensors, or microscopes based on such designs to operate with thermal noise sources of few photons. This paradigm shift opens a path toward radically new understanding and exploitation of the relation between coherent, quantum or classical, evolution and thermodynamic behavior.
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spelling doaj-art-b89e83c9e3034d4b92a7dee4f747d70e2025-08-20T03:06:19ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Quantum2835-01032025-03-0121010901010901-910.1063/5.0242787Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologiesGershon Kurizki0Nilakantha Meher1Tomáš Opatrný2AMOS and Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, IsraelAMOS and Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, IsraelDepartment of Optics, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146 Olomouc, Czech RepublicThe impact of quantum mechanics on thermodynamics, particularly on the principles and designs of heat machines (HMs), has been limited by the incompatibility of quantum coherent evolution with the dissipative, open-system nature of all existing HMs and their basic structure, which has not been radically changed since Carnot. We have recently proposed a paradigm change whereby conventional HM functionality is replaced by few-mode coherent, closed systems with nonlinear, e.g., cross-Kerr, inter-mode couplings. These couplings allow us to coherently filter incident thermal noise, transforming it into a resource of work and information. Current technological advances enable heat engines, noise sensors, or microscopes based on such designs to operate with thermal noise sources of few photons. This paradigm shift opens a path toward radically new understanding and exploitation of the relation between coherent, quantum or classical, evolution and thermodynamic behavior.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0242787
spellingShingle Gershon Kurizki
Nilakantha Meher
Tomáš Opatrný
Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
APL Quantum
title Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
title_full Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
title_fullStr Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
title_full_unstemmed Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
title_short Nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics: From principles to technologies
title_sort nonlinearity and quantumness in thermodynamics from principles to technologies
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0242787
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