The researchers at the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) and Department of Physics at the National University of Singapore (NUS), SUTD, and the University of Augsburg, Germany, collaborated to give new insights into the mechanics of nanomachines or quantum computers.
The Quantum Information journal published the results of their research.
Researchers found out that a single atom can function as either a fridge or an engine(thermodynamics describe them both as machines that how energy moves within a system and how we can utilize it.)
Earlier creation of small heat engines with the use of a single atom, a single molecule, and defects in diamond, but these researchers want to understand how we can build thermodynamic devices with a few atoms.
Researchers could understand the quantum effects that come into play when machinery shrinks to the atomic scale by experimenting with a single-atom device. They measured how much vibrational energy was present at the end of each cycle. When the atom zaps with an engine cycle, vibrational energy increased, while it decreased when the zaps followed the fridge cycle.
The team had to track two thermodynamics quantities to understand the atom-sized machine better.
- Ergotropy: useful convertible energy
- Entropy: disorder in the system.
Researchers observed that both Entropy and Ergotropy increased as the atom-machine runs.
A successful development of an atom-sized device can enable researchers to engineer future computers, and fuel cells to control energy flows.
#AIMonks #QuantumMechanics #Research #Thermodynamics #Atoms #Nanomechanics #QuantumComputers #Engines
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