Quantum Thermodynamics and Quantum Coherence Engines

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in quantum thermodynamics, focusing on quantum heat engines that utilize quantum coherence and correlations to potentially surpass classical efficiency limits.

Contribution

It summarizes recent research efforts in extending classical thermodynamics to quantum systems, emphasizing the role of quantum coherence in energy conversion devices.

Findings

Quantum coherence can enhance heat engine efficiency.

Quantum correlations influence energy extraction performance.

Recent theoretical bounds on quantum heat engine efficiency.

Abstract

Advantages of quantum effects in several technologies, such as computation and communication, have already been well appreciated, and some devices, such as quantum computers and communication links, exhibiting superiority to their classical counterparts have been demonstrated. The close relationship between information and energy motivates us to explore if similar quantum benefits can be found in energy technologies. Investigation of performance limits for a broader class of information-energy machines is the subject of the rapidly emerging field of quantum thermodynamics. Extension of classical thermodynamical laws to the quantum realm is far from trivial. This short review presents some of the recent efforts in this fundamental direction and focuses on quantum heat engines and their efficiency bounds when harnessing energy from non-thermal resources, specifically those containing quantum coherence and correlations.