Proposal for an autonomous quantum heat engine

TL;DR

This paper proposes a superconducting circuit design for an autonomous quantum heat engine that can generate microwave power from heat flow, with theoretical analysis indicating feasible experimental realization.

Contribution

It introduces a novel superconducting circuit model for an autonomous quantum heat engine and provides a theoretical analysis demonstrating its potential for experimental implementation.

Findings

Coherent microwave power can be generated from heat flow in the circuit.

The energy generation rate is experimentally observable with current technology.

The work advances toward realizing an autonomous quantum heat engine based on Otto cycles.

Abstract

We propose and theoretically analyse a superconducting electric circuit which can be used to experimentally realize an autonomous quantum heat engine. Using a quasiclassical, non-Markovian theoretical model, we demonstrate that coherent microwave power generation can emerge solely from the heat flow through the circuit determined by non-linear circuit quantum electrodynamics. The predicted energy generation rate is sufficiently high for experimental observation with contemporary techniques, rendering this work a significant step toward the first experimental realization of an autonomous quantum heat engine based on Otto cycles.