Quantum devices for thermodynamics at the nanoscale

Understanding how thermodynamics operates at small scales, where fluctuations are significant and quantum behaviour arises, may reveal possibilities for entirely novel technologies. We can explore thermodynamics in this limit by combining exquisite control over mechanical degrees of freedom and the quantum states of confined electrons.

I will show how to detect the displacement of a carbon nanotube approaching the standard quantum limit near the phonon ground state [1-2]. This capability, with quantum dots embedded in the carbon nanotube, allowed us to explore the impact of electron tunnelling on the mechanical motion, including the excitation of coherent self-oscillations [3]. I will discuss the potential of these findings to pave the way for experiments on quantum thermodynamics, in particular, for direct measurements of work exchange in the quantum regime.

References

[1] N. Ares et al. PRL 117, 170801 (2016)
[2] Y. Wen et al. APL 113, 153101 (2018)
[3] Y. Wen et al. arXiv: 1903.04474 (2019)