Nicolas Brunner

Autonomous quantum thermal machines

University of Geneva   

Small autonomous quantum thermal machines function without any external source of coherence or control, but using only incoherent interactions with thermal baths. We discuss the role of quantum entanglement in such machines. First, we show that entanglement can enhance cooling and energy transport in a three-qubit quantum refrigerator. Second, we present a simple autonomous machine for generating steady-state entanglement, with possible applications in superconducting qubits and quantum dots.