Roles of quantum coherences in thermal machines

Abstract

Some of the oldest and most important applications of thermodynamics are operations of refrigeration as well as production of useful energy. Part of the efforts to understand and develop thermodynamics in the quantum regime have been focusing on harnessing quantum effects to such operations. In this review we present the recent developments regarding the role of quantum coherences in the performances of thermal machines -the devices realising the above thermodynamic operations. While this is known to be an intricate subject, in part because being largely modeldependent, the review of the recent results allow us to identify some general tendencies and to suggest some future directions.

Ergotropy from quantum and classical correlations

“…This area of research has received a boost by the realization that quantum thermodynamics contributes profoundly to the development of new generation quantum technologies [13,14]. Among these emerging technologies, in particular quantum thermal machines [15][16][17][18][19][20] and quantum information engines [21][22][23][24][25], aka quantum computers [26] necessitate a comprehensive study of quantum information as a thermodynamic resource. In this context, it is important to realize that from a thermodynamic perspective quantum information as quantified by the von Neumann entropy is not the only notion of information to be considered.…”