Articles tagged with "thermodynamics"
Physicists Create a Thermometer for Measuring ‘Quantumness’
Physicists have developed a novel method to detect quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement by observing "anomalous" heat flow, which appears to contradict the classical second law of thermodynamics. Traditionally, heat flows spontaneously from hotter to colder bodies, as stated by Clausius in 1850. However, at the quantum scale, heat can flow from colder to hotter systems due to quantum mechanical effects, without violating the fundamental thermodynamic principles. This quantum heat flow can be harnessed as a sensitive, non-destructive thermometer for measuring "quantumness" in physical systems. The technique involves coupling a quantum system to an information-storing system and a heat sink capable of absorbing energy. By measuring the temperature increase of the heat sink, researchers can infer the presence of quantum superposition or entanglement in the system. This approach not only provides a practical tool for verifying quantum resources in quantum computing but also deepens the understanding of the interplay between thermodynamics and information theory.
energyquantum-physicsthermodynamicsheat-flowquantum-entanglementquantum-computingquantum-measurementScientists build record-breaking particle engine hotter than Sun's core
A team of scientists at King’s College London has developed the world’s smallest particle engine, known as a Paul Trap, which operates at temperatures exceeding those of the Sun’s core. This microscopic engine suspends a single particle using electrical fields and heats it by applying a noisy voltage to the electrodes. Unlike conventional engines designed to power machines, this device serves as a novel experimental platform to explore thermodynamics at the microscale. Remarkably, the engine exhibits behavior that sometimes contradicts classical thermodynamic laws, such as cooling down when exposed to warmer temperatures, due to unique thermal fluctuations that are typically undetectable at larger scales. Beyond advancing fundamental physics, the researchers believe the Paul Trap could revolutionize the study of protein folding—a critical biological process linked to human health and disease. By functioning as an analog computer, the engine can simulate the random forces influencing protein folding more efficiently than traditional digital simulations, which struggle with the vastly different timescales of atomic motion and protein folding. This approach may enable better
energythermodynamicsparticle-enginePaul-Trapmicroscopic-engineheat-conversionprotein-foldingPhysicists rewrite 200-year-old principle to unlock atomic engines
A research team at the University of Stuttgart, led by physicists Eric Lutz and Milton Aguilar, has fundamentally challenged the 200-year-old Carnot principle, a cornerstone of thermodynamics that sets the maximum efficiency for heat engines operating between two thermal reservoirs. While the Carnot principle, formulated in 1824, applies to macroscopic engines like steam turbines, the researchers demonstrated that it does not hold at the atomic scale where quantum correlations between particles come into play. Their work shows that quantum heat engines can surpass the traditional Carnot efficiency limit by harnessing these correlations, which classical thermodynamics neglects. This breakthrough extends thermodynamic laws to account for quantum effects, revealing that atomic-scale thermal machines can convert both heat and quantum correlations into usable work, thus achieving higher efficiencies than previously thought possible. The findings open new avenues for developing ultra-efficient quantum engines and nanoscale technologies, including tiny molecular motors potentially capable of powering medical nanobots or manipulating materials at the atomic level. Published in Science Advances
energyquantum-enginesthermodynamicsatomic-scalenanobotsquantum-physicsheat-enginesThermodynamic limits surpassed with quantum energy-harvesting method
Japanese researchers have developed a novel quantum energy-harvesting method that surpasses traditional thermodynamic efficiency limits by exploiting non-thermal quantum states. Their approach utilizes a non-thermal Tomonaga-Luttinger (TL) liquid—a one-dimensional electron system that resists thermalization and retains high-energy quantum states instead of distributing heat evenly. By directing waste heat from a quantum point contact transistor into this TL liquid, the team demonstrated significantly higher electrical voltage generation and improved energy conversion efficiency compared to conventional quasi-thermalized systems. The researchers supported their experimental findings with a theoretical model based on a binary Fermi distribution, showing that their method can exceed classical efficiency boundaries such as the Carnot and Curzon-Ahlborn limits. This breakthrough highlights the potential of non-thermal quantum states as sustainable energy resources, enabling more efficient low-power electronics and advancing quantum computing technologies. The study suggests that waste heat from quantum devices and electronics could be effectively recycled into usable power, paving the way for next-generation energy-har
energyquantum-energy-harvestingthermodynamicswaste-heat-recoverylow-power-electronicsquantum-technologyenergy-efficiencyThe Key To Fossil Fuel Profits? Waste As Much Energy As Possible. - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the inherent inefficiency and wastefulness of fossil fuel energy use, particularly in transportation and industrial processes. It points out that typical gasoline-powered cars are only about 15% efficient, meaning the vast majority of the energy paid for is lost as heat rather than used to move the vehicle. This inefficiency is not a minor leak but a systemic issue embedded in the fossil fuel economy, which continuously wastes huge amounts of energy to sustain its profit-driven extraction and consumption cycle. The article critiques the fossil fuel industry's narrative that fossil fuels are indispensable for modern life and economic progress, emphasizing that much of the energy consumed is wasted rather than productively used. The piece draws on insights from economist Robert Ayres and energy analyst Lloyd Alter to argue that the economy fundamentally transforms energy into goods, services, and waste heat, with fossil fuel systems being particularly wasteful. It challenges the common belief that transitioning to renewable energy is impossible due to high energy demands, citing data from the Liverm
energyfossil-fuelsrenewable-energyenergy-efficiencycarbon-emissionsthermodynamicselectric-vehiclesShining The Light Of Truth On Fossil Fuel Madness - CleanTechnica
The article "Shining The Light Of Truth On Fossil Fuel Madness" by Lloyd Alter, featured on CleanTechnica, highlights the fundamental role of energy in economic systems, drawing heavily on the work of economist and physicist Robert Ayers. Ayers emphasized that economies function by extracting and transforming energy into goods and services, a process inherently governed by the laws of thermodynamics. Alter underscores that industrial activities generate significant waste and emissions, with the mass of residuals often exceeding the materials processed. This inefficiency challenges traditional economic views and stresses the environmental costs embedded in consumption patterns, such as the production and disposal of goods. Alter further critiques the fossil fuel economy by illustrating its inefficiency and the systemic incentives that perpetuate it. Using 2023 data from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he notes that only about 10-12% of the energy in fuels used for transportation effectively powers vehicles, with the rest lost as heat and emissions. This inefficiency benefits oil companies and related industries
energyfossil-fuelsrenewable-energythermodynamicscarbon-emissionssustainabilityenergy-consumptionA strange quantum battery concept reveals the second law of entanglement
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that quantum entanglement—a fundamental and mysterious connection between particles—can be manipulated reversibly, akin to energy in classical thermodynamics. This breakthrough was achieved by introducing the concept of an "entanglement battery," a quantum system that stores and supplies entanglement during transformations without loss. By allowing entanglement to flow in and out of this battery, the researchers resolved a long-standing challenge in quantum information science: the inability to perfectly reverse entanglement transformations under the traditional framework of local operations and classical communication (LOCC), which typically degrade entanglement. The study shows that in the asymptotic limit of many identical entangled states, transformations between different entangled states can be performed reversibly with rates determined by the relative amounts of entanglement, analogous to thermodynamic cycles involving energy and entropy. This framework not only advances the fundamental understanding of entanglement but also has practical implications for quantum computing, secure communication, and quantum networks. Furthermore
energyquantum-batteryquantum-entanglementquantum-informationthermodynamicsquantum-computingquantum-networksClimeworks’ DAC & Fiscal Collapse & The Brutal Reality Of Pulling Carbon From The Sky
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-captureclimate-technologyemissions-reductionthermodynamicsrenewable-energy