Detection of single-electron heat transfer statistics

TL;DR

This paper investigates heat transfer at the single-electron level in a quantum dot system, analyzing charge and heat statistics, and explores fluctuation theorems under various conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a method to measure heat transfer statistics via charge counting in capacitively coupled quantum dots, revealing deviations from fluctuation theorems due to temperature gradients.

Findings

Energy transfer is discrete and measurable by charge counting.

Deviations from fluctuation theorems occur with local temperature gradients.

A fluctuation theorem is valid for coupled dots with heat exchange and no net particle flow.

Abstract

We consider a quantum dot system whose charge fluctuations are monitored by a quantum point contact allowing for the detection of both charge and transferred heat statistics. Our system consists of two nearby conductors that exchange energy via Coulomb interaction. In interfaces consisting of capacitively coupled quantum dots, energy transfer is discrete and can be measured by charge counting statistics. We investigate gate dependent deviations away from a charge fluctuation theorem in the presence of local temperature gradients (hot spots). Non universal relations are found for state dependent charge counting. A fluctuation theorem holds for coupled dot configurations with heat exchange and no net particle flow.