English

Thermal devices powered by generalized measurements with indefinite causal order

Quantum Physics 2023-02-21 v2

Abstract

A quantum-controlled device may produce a scenario in which two general quantum operations can be performed in such a way that it is not possible to associate a definite order for the operations application. Such an indefinite causal order can be explored to produce nontrivial effects in quantum thermal devices. We investigate a measurement-powered thermal device that consists of generalized measurement channels with adjustable intensity parameters, where energy is exchanged with the apparatus in the form of work or heat. The measurement-based device can operate as a heat engine, a thermal accelerator, or a refrigerator, according to a measurement intensity setting. By employing a quantum switch of two measurement channels, we explore a thermal device fueled by an indefinite causal order. We also discuss how a coherent control over an indefinite causal order structure can change the operating regimes of the measurement-powered thermal device to produce an advantage when compared to a scenario with an incoherent control of the order switch.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2205.14406,
  title  = {Thermal devices powered by generalized measurements with indefinite causal order},
  author = {Pedro R. Dieguez and Vinicius F. Lisboa and Roberto M. Serra},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2205.14406},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

14 pages, 9 figures, typos removed, closer to the published version

R2 v1 2026-06-24T11:31:48.298Z