Nonequilibrium Many-Body Quantum Engine Driven by Time-Translation Symmetry Breaking

Federico Carollo, Kay Brandner, and Igor Lesanovsky
Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 240602 – Published 9 December 2020
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Abstract

Quantum many-body systems out of equilibrium can host intriguing phenomena such as transitions to exotic dynamical states. Although this emergent behaviour can be observed in experiments, its potential for technological applications is largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the impact of collective effects on quantum engines that extract mechanical work from a many-body system. Using an optomechanical cavity setup with an interacting atomic gas as a working fluid, we demonstrate theoretically that such engines produce work under periodic driving. The stationary cycle of the working fluid features nonequilibrium phase transitions, resulting in abrupt changes of the work output. Remarkably, we find that our many-body quantum engine operates even without periodic driving. This phenomenon occurs when its working fluid enters a phase that breaks continuous time-translation symmetry: The emergent time-crystalline phase can sustain the motion of a load generating mechanical work. Our findings pave the way for designing novel nonequilibrium quantum machines.

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  • Received 16 July 2020
  • Accepted 3 November 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.240602

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Federico Carollo1, Kay Brandner2, and Igor Lesanovsky1,2

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
  • 2School of Physics and Astronomy and Centre for the Mathematics and Theoretical Physics of Quantum Non-Equilibrium Systems, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 125, Iss. 24 — 11 December 2020

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