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24. April 2018 15:00

The single ion heat engine - towards a sensitive quantum probe for non-classical baths

Prof. Kilian Singer
Universität Kassel, Institut für Physik

Thermodynamic machines can be reduced to the ultimate atomic limit [1],
using a single ion as a working agent. The confinement in a linear Paul
trap with tapered geometry allows for coupling axial and radial modes of
oscillation.The heat-engine is driven thermally by coupling it
alternately to hot and cold reservoirs, using the output power of the
engine to drive a harmonic oscillation [2].From direct measurements of
the ion dynamics, the thermodynamic cycles for various temperature
differences of the reservoirs can be determined [3] and the efficiency
compared with analytical estimates. I will describe how the engine
principle can be exploited to implement a differential probe for
non-classical baths.


[1] J. Rossnagel et al., "A single-atom heat engine", Science 352, 325
(2016).

[2] O. Abah et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 203006 (2012).

[3] J.  Rossnagel et al., New J. Phys. 17, 045004 (2015)