A self-contained quantum harmonic engine

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum harmonic engine composed of three oscillators performing an Otto cycle, demonstrating that high work output correlates with significant quantum correlations.

Contribution

It presents a self-contained quantum engine model with finite environments, analyzing quantum correlations during operation, which is a novel approach in quantum thermodynamics.

Findings

High work generation correlates with large quantum entanglement.

The engine operates in finite cycles before needing reset.

Quantum discord is also generated during the cycle.

Abstract

We propose a system made of three quantum harmonic oscillators as a compact quantum engine for producing mechanical work. The three oscillators play respectively the role of the hot bath, the working medium and the cold bath. The working medium performs an Otto cycle during which its frequency is changed and it is sequentially coupled to each of the two other oscillators. As the two environments are finite, the lifetime of the machine is finite and after a number of cycles it stops working and needs to be reset. We analyse the entanglement and quantum discord generated during the strokes and show that high work generation is always accompanied by large quantum correlations.