Quantum Information Engines: Assessing Time, Cost and Performance Criteria

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how measurement time affects the efficiency, power, and energy costs of quantum information engines, identifying optimal operational conditions based on a combined performance metric.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of measurement time's impact on the efficiency and power output of quantum information engines, highlighting optimal operating regimes.

Findings

Efficiency peaks at intermediate measurement times

Power output is maximized at specific operational times

Optimal performance occurs at a balance between information gain and energetic cost

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the crucial role of measurement time ($t_m$), information gain and energy consumption in information engines (IEs) utilizing a von-Neumann measurement model. These important measurement parameters allow us to analyze the efficiency and power output of these devices. As the measurement time increases, the information gain and subsequently the extracted work also increase. However, there is a corresponding increase in the energetic cost. The efficiency of converting information into free energy diminishes as $t_m$ approaches both 0 and infinity, peaking at intermediate values of $t_m$. The power output (work extracted per times) also reaches a maximum at specific operational time regimes. By considering the product of efficiency and power as a performance metric, we can identify the optimal operating conditions for the IE.