Heat transport through a superconducting artificial atom

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum heat transfer in a superconducting setup with a tunable transmon qubit between thermal reservoirs, comparing exact numerical results with approximate models to inform better device design.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed numerical analysis of heat transport in a superconducting artificial atom, highlighting the limitations of approximate methods.

Findings

Exact HEOM approach reveals steady state heat transfer properties.

Approximate models often fail across broad parameter ranges.

Results inform improved heat control in superconducting devices.

Abstract

Quantum heat transfer through a generic superconducting set-up consisting of a tunable transmon qubit placed between resonators that are termined by thermal reservoirs is explored. Two types of architectures are considered, a sequential and a beam splitter setting. Applying the numerical exact hierarchical equation of motion (HEOM) approach, steady state properties are revealed, and experimentally relevant parameter sets are identified. Benchmark results are compared with predictions based on approximate treatments to demonstrate their failure in broad ranges of parameter space. These findings may allow to improve future designs for heat control in superconducting devices.