Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Owing to the ubiquity of synchronization in the classical world, it is interesting to study its behavior in quantum systems. Though quantum synchronization has been investigated in many systems, a clear connection to quantum technology applications is lacking. We bridge this gap and show that nanoscale heat engines are a natural platform to study quantum synchronization and always possess a stable limit cycle. Furthermore, we demonstrate an intimate relationship between the power of a coherently driven heat engine and its phase-locking properties by proving that synchronization places an upper bound on the achievable steady-state power of the engine. We also demonstrate that such an engine exhibits finite steady-state power if and only if its synchronization measure is nonzero. Finally, we show that the efficiency of the engine sets a point in terms of the bath temperatures where synchronization vanishes. We link the physical phenomenon of synchronization with the emerging field of quantum thermodynamics by establishing quantum synchronization as a mechanism of stable phase coherence.
Source: Physical review. E
Institutions: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Keio University Shonan Fujisawa, University of Oxford, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), University of Naples Federico II, Nanyang Technological University, National Institute of Education
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation Singapore, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Ministry of Education - Singapore, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Centre for Quantum Technologies, Science and Engineering Research Board, Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre
OpenAlex ID: W2905679137