Minimal motor for powering particle motion from spin imbalance

TL;DR

This paper presents a minimal quantum motor model that converts energy from baths into work on a particle, demonstrating efficiency even with dissipation, and suggests feasible experimental implementations.

Contribution

It introduces a simple quantum motor model with coupled spins and particle transport, highlighting the necessity of spin coupling and potential experimental realizations.

Findings

Energy can be partially converted to work despite dissipation.

Coupling between spins is essential for motor operation.

Proposed implementations include trapped ions and quantum dots.

Abstract

We introduce a minimalistic quantum motor for coupled energy and particle transport. The system is composed of two spins, each coupled to a different bath and to a particle which can move on a ring consisting of three sites. We show that the energy flowing from the baths to the system can be partially converted to perform work against an external driving, even in the presence of moderate dissipation. We also analytically demonstrate the necessity of coupling between the spins. We suggest an experimental realization of our model using trapped ions or quantum dots.