Entanglement, Coherence, and Extractable Work in Quantum Batteries

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum coherence and entanglement serve as essential resources for maximizing extractable work in quantum batteries, revealing their roles in charging efficiency and work quality.

Contribution

It establishes the necessity of quantum coherence and entanglement for nonzero work extraction and links these resources to the nature and speed of work output in quantum batteries.

Findings

Quantum coherence is necessary for nonzero extractable work.

Coherence promotes coherent work, while entanglement and incoherence inhibit incoherent work.

Maximally coherent work can be obtained faster than incoherent work.

Abstract

We investigate the connection between quantum resources and extractable work in quantum batteries. We demonstrate that quantum coherence in the battery or the battery-charger entanglement is a necessary resource for generating nonzero extractable work during the charging process. At the end of the charging process, we also establish a tight link of coherence and entanglement with the final extractable work: coherence naturally promotes the coherent work while coherence and entanglement inhibit the incoherent work. We also show that obtaining maximally coherent work is faster than obtaining maximally incoherent work. Examples ranging from the central-spin battery and the Tavis-Cummings battery to the spin-chain battery are given to illustrate these results.