Quantum limit of heat flow across a single electronic channel

TL;DR

This paper experimentally measures the quantum limit of heat flow across a single electronic channel, confirming the universal quantum of thermal conductance predicted by quantum physics, with high accuracy.

Contribution

It provides the first precise experimental verification of the quantum of thermal conductance for electrons using noise thermometry.

Findings

Measured heat flow matches the predicted quantum limit within 10% accuracy.

Confirmed universality of thermal conductance quantum for Fermi particles.

Established a new experimental method for quantum heat manipulation.

Abstract

Quantum physics predicts that there is a fundamental maximum heat conductance across a single transport channel, and that this thermal conductance quantum $G_Q$ is universal, independent of the type of particles carrying the heat. Such universality, combined with the relationship between heat and information, signals a general limit on information transfer. We report on the quantitative measurement of the quantum limited heat flow for Fermi particles across a single electronic channel, using noise thermometry. The demonstrated agreement with the predicted $G_Q$ establishes experimentally this basic building block of quantum thermal transport. The achieved accuracy of below 10\% opens access to many experiments involving the quantum manipulation of heat.