Energy transport between two pure-dephasing reservoirs

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that energy can be transported between two pure-dephasing reservoirs connected via a quantum chain, driven by quantum coherence effects in the steady state, with a microscopic model valid in ultrastrong coupling regimes.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum model for pure-dephasing reservoirs that predicts energy transport through a chain, highlighting the role of quantum coherence in steady-state energy flow.

Findings

Energy transport occurs between pure-dephasing reservoirs in steady state.

Quantum coherence between sites sustains the energy transport.

A microscopic model valid in ultrastrong coupling regimes is developed.

Abstract

A pure-dephasing reservoir acting on an individual quantum system induces loss of coherence without energy exchange. When acting on composite quantum systems, dephasing reservoirs can lead to a radically different behavior. Transport of energy between two pure-dephasing markovian reservoirs is predicted in this work. They are connected through a chain of coupled sites. The baths are kept in thermal equilibrium at distinct temperatures. Quantum coherence between sites is generated in the steady-state regime and results in the underlying mechanism sustaining the effect. A quantum model for the reservoirs is a necessary condition for the existence of stationary energy transport. A microscopic derivation of the non-unitary system-bath interaction is employed, valid in the ultrastrong inter-site coupling regime. The model assumes that each site-reservoir coupling is local.