Highly efficient phase-tunable photonic thermal diode

Abstract

We investigate the photon-mediated thermal transport between a superconducting electrode and a normal metal. When the quasiparticle contribution can be neglected, the photon-mediated channel becomes an efficient heat transport relaxation process for the superconductor at low temperatures, being larger than the intrinsic contribution due to the electron–phonon interaction. Furthermore, the superconductor–normal metal system acts as a nearly perfect thermal diode, with a rectification factor up to 108 for a realistic aluminum superconductor. The rectification factor can also be tuned in a phase-controlled fashion through a non-galvanic coupling, realized by changing the magnetic flux piercing a superconducting quantum interference device, which modifies the coupling impedance between the superconductor and the normal metal. The scheme can be exploited for passive cooling in superconducting quantum circuits by transferring heat toward normal metallic pads where it dissipates more efficiently or for more general thermal management purposes.

Quantum thermodynamic devices: from theoretical proposals to experimental reality

“…The actual phase diagrams depend sensitively on whether or not the phase parity is enforced, and thus the device could actually be used as a diagnostics tool for the presence of 4πperiodicity in Josephson junctions. Indeed, the proposal by Scharf et al 370 has already attracted follow up work in the design of engines 372,373 , and in quantum metrology and sensing [374][375][376] .…”

Electromagnetic simulation and microwave circuit approach of heat transport in superconducting qubits

“…Practical heat transport devices have been realized, advancing our understanding of quantum thermodynamics. Experiments have measured photonic heat flow between two resistors through a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in various configurations, indicating quantum limited photonic thermal conductance [15][16][17][18][19][20]. This quantum-limited heat conduction is also observed across two resistors separated by 1 meter transmission line long distance [21].…”

Dual Phase Change Thermal Diodes with High Rectification for Thermal Management near Room Temperature

“…[1,2] High-performing thermal diodes could be useful in the advancement of nanoscale devices, phononics, [3,4] cryogenics, [5] solar-powered systems, [6,7] and other applications requiring passive cooling. [8,9] On a larger scale, thermal diodes that operate around room temperatures could form a smart building envelope by maintaining a desired internal temperature and reduce the need for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC). This could potentially bring down HVAC costs, which account for ≈40% of energy consumption.…”