Theory of an optomechanical quantum heat engine

Abstract

Coherent interconversion between optical and mechanical excitations in an optomechanical cavity can be used to engineer a quantum heat engine. This heat engine is based on an Otto cycle between a cold photonic reservoir and a hot phononic reservoir [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 150602 (2014)]. Building on our previous work, we (i) develop a detailed theoretical analysis of the work and the efficiency of the engine, and (ii) perform an investigation of the quantum thermodynamics underlying this scheme. In particular, we analyze the thermodynamic performance in both the dressed polariton picture and the original bare photon and phonon picture. Finally, (iii) a numerical simulation is performed to derive the full evolution of the quantum optomechanical system during the Otto cycle, by taking into account all relevant sources of noise.

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• Quantum thermodynamic devices: from theoretical proposals to experimental reality
• A quantum heat engine with coupled superconducting resonators
• Proposal for an Optomechanical Microwave Sensor at the Subphoton Level
• Measurement-induced operation of two-ion quantum heat machines
• Heat transport in harmonic oscillator systems with correlated baths: Application to optomechanical arrays
• One qubit and one photon -- the simplest polaritonic heat engine
• Extracting work from quantum states of radiation