research
Modern breakthroughs in quantum information theory and thermodynamics, combined with advances in nanoscale fabrication and quantum control, are driving the next wave of Quantum Technologies 2.0. These next-generation devices exploit quantum phenomena to revolutionize computing, communication, sensing, and simulation—raising crucial questions: Do quantum effects play any role in thermodynamics? If so, can we use it? This challenge has given rise to quantum thermodynamics, providing the tools to explore how quantum principles can enhance energy control in quantum counterparts of thermal devices.
At the nanoscale, managing heat flows—thermotronics—mirrors electronics, enabling thermal logic and energy-efficient computing. Understanding these quantum-thermodynamic processes is key to optimizing energy use and minimizing waste heat. My research sits at the intersection of
● Quantum Thermodynamics
● Open Quantum Systems
● Quantum Information
● Quantum Thermotronics
to develop strategies to control energy flow in quantum systems and novel devices.
Quantum thermal devices
A quantum thermal device (QTD) is a system designed to perform specific thermodynamic tasks using quantum systems interacting with thermal reservoirs. Its operation depends on several key factors: the number of subsystems and reservoirs, their physical properties (such as dimensionality, energy spectrum, and particle statistics), temperature gradients, spatial arrangement, system-reservoir couplings, and internal interactions between subsystems.
My research systematically explores QTD parameters to develop novel architectures, with particular focus on quantum thermal transistors (QTTs) and quantum batteries (QBs). A key objective involves optimizing their operational performance, including developing strategies to mitigate intrinsic QB discharge processes caused by environmental effects (TWM protocol) and enhancing heat flow amplification in QTTs. I am particularly interested in advancing the practical implementation of such devices beyond proof-of-principle demonstrations, especially within circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) platforms.
Foundations of quantum thermodynamics
I am also deeply interested in the fundamental aspects of quantum thermodynamics, particularly in establishing general quantum counterparts of classical thermodynamic quantities such as work, heat, and entropy. Current definitions are typically limited to specific scenarios constrained by weak-coupling and Markovian assumptions—while thermodynamically relevant, these restrictions limit their applicability to more general cases.
To address this, we propose a universal definition of internal energy applicable to arbitrary quantum systems, including strongly coupled and fully autonomous scenarios. Remarkably, by starting from an isolated system, this approach enables the identification of time-dependent local operators (interpreted as Local Effective Hamiltonians) whose expectation values sum to the total internal energy. This formulation naturally satisfies energy additivity while maintaining broad applicability.
