Revealing the fuel of a quantum continuous measurement-based refrigerator

While quantum measurements have been shown to constitute a resource for operating quantum thermal machines, the nature of the energy exchanges involved in the interaction between system and measuring apparatus is still under debate. In this work, we show that a microscopic model of the apparatus is necessary to unambiguously determine whether quantum measurements provide energy in the form of heat or work. We illustrate this result by considering a measurement-based refrigerator, made of a double quantum dot embedded in a two-terminal device, with the charge of one of the dots being continuously monitored. Tuning the parameters of the measurement device interpolates between heat- and work-fueled regimes with…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NC
  National Centres of Competence in Research SwissMAP
• AN
  Agence Nationale de la Recherche

  Award: ANR-22-CPJ1-0029-01
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
• V
  Vetenskapsrådet

  Award: 335-2014-7424