Non-Thermal Quantum Engine in Transmon Qubits

Entropy (Basel). 2019 May 29;21(6):545. doi: 10.3390/e21060545.

Abstract

The design and implementation of quantum technologies necessitates the understanding of thermodynamic processes in the quantum domain. In stark contrast to macroscopic thermodynamics, at the quantum scale processes generically operate far from equilibrium and are governed by fluctuations. Thus, experimental insight and empirical findings are indispensable in developing a comprehensive framework. To this end, we theoretically propose an experimentally realistic quantum engine that uses transmon qubits as working substance. We solve the dynamics analytically and calculate its efficiency.

Keywords: nonequilibrium systems; quantum heat engines; quantum thermodynamics.