Perfect Energy Efficiency: Quantum Engines With Entanglement as Fuel?

Superconducting Circuit

Professor of physics Andrew Jordan and his colleagues will use superconducting circuits to design experiments that can be carried out within a realistic quantum system, with the goal of studying concepts that are currently poorly understood in quantum mechanics. Credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster

University of Rochester researcher receives $1 million grant to study quantum thermodynamics.

It’s still more science fiction than science fact, but perfect energy efficiency may be one step closer due to new research at the University of Rochester.

In order to make a car run, a car’s engine burns gasoline and converts the energy from the heat of the combusting gasoline into mechanical work. In the process, however, energy is wasted; a typical car only converts around 25 percent of the energy in gasoline into useful energy to make it run.

Engines that run with 100 percent efficiency are still more science fiction than science fact, but new research from the University of Rochester may bring scientists one step closer to demonstrating an ideal transfer of energy within a system.

Andrew Jordan, a professor of physics at Rochester, was recently awarded a three-year, $1 million grant from the Templeton Foundation to research quantum measurement engines—engines that use the principles of quantum mechanics to run with 100 percent efficiency. The research, to be carried out with co-principal investigators in France and at Washington University St. Louis, could answer important questions about the laws of thermodynamics in quantum systems and contribute to technologies such as more efficient engines and quantum computers.

“The grant deals with several Big Questions about our natural world,” Jordan says.

Physics at a small level

The researchers have previously described the concept of quantum measurement engines, but the theory has never been demonstrated experimentally.

In the microscopic quantum world, particles exhibit unique properties that do not align with the classical laws of physics as we know them. Jordan and his colleagues will use superconducting circuits to design experiments that can be carried out within a realistic quantum system. Through these experiments, the researchers will study how the laws of energy, work, power, efficiency, heat, and entropy function at the quantum level. These concepts are currently poorly understood in quantum mechanics.

Microscopic power tasks

Quantum measurement engines may work in microscopic environments for very small power tasks such as moving around an atom or charging a miniaturized circuit. In these capacities, they may be important components for quantum computers.

This type of engine couldn’t currently be used to power a car, however; the power in a quantum measurement engine is measured in the unit picowatts, with one picowatt equal to one million millionths of a watt. For comparison, a single lightbulb has about 60 watts of power.

“The power scales involved—numbers like picowatts—indicate the large gap between our human interests and these tiny engines,” Jordan says.

One way to make quantum measurement engines for human-scale activities may be “through massive parallelization,” Jordan says. “Each device only outputs a tiny amount of energy, but by making billions of them working together, you could make a macroscopic engine from the ground up.”

A new type of fuel

Jordan and his team will also investigate another major area of research: how it might be possible to extract work from a system using entanglement as a fuel. In entanglement—one of the basic of concepts of quantum physics—the properties of one particle are interlinked with properties of another, even when the particles are separated by a large distance. Using entanglement as a fuel has the possibly revolutionary feature of creating a non-local engine; half of an engine could be in New York, while the other half could be in California. The energy would not be held by either half of the system, yet the two parts could still share energy to fuel both halves proficiently.

“We will show that the engine can, in principle, be perfectly efficient,” Jordan says. “That is, there would be an ideal transfer of energy from the measurement apparatus to the quantum system.”

The foundation award reflects the significance of quantum technology as a national and international priority, and Rochester’s key role in the enterprise. The project itself builds on Rochester’s robust history of research in optics and physics and current efforts to better unravel the mysteries of quantum mechanics.

“The University of Rochester has an existing strength in quantum physics, and indeed was the birthplace of the field of quantum optics,” Jordan says. “We have a good collection of quality researchers in place, a historical legacy of quantum physics, and ongoing University support of quantum physics.”

12 Comments on "Perfect Energy Efficiency: Quantum Engines With Entanglement as Fuel?"

  1. REBEL’S DAILY REPORTS
    Combine this technology with a magnetic rail system with very low residence or the tube vacuum system or something else and you will have a new pollution free way to move people and goods around the world! Add in solar power energy and wind power and we can get rid of automobiles and convert to new ways of getting around!

  2. margaret margulies | October 18, 2020 at 4:03 pm | Reply

    “These”, said my father, “are the only people really doing anything.”

  3. quantum thermodynamics? Entropy S, S = k ln W
    Still k, the Boltzmann constant applicable?

  4. Thermionic Electron Emissions will increase 1000x with a thoriated cathode

    Clean electric energy production is important – what if the energy of thorium electrons or cobalt 60 magnets in a gas field or other type systems can be converted cheaply to electric power ?

    If the below is improved it may generate 1000x more Thermionic Electron Emissions with a thoriated cathode ?

    How a Thermionic Converter Works – Model Demonstration

    https://youtu.be/K5GVrYcjBKs

    Direct production of electric power from heat – C. Guy Suits of the GE Research Lab shows us how a Thermionic generator works. A simple model to show the average person the basics they need to know. caesium vapor between the electrodes determines surface and plasmas properties. we use caesium because it is most easily ionized. Video by the Edison Tech Center in Schenectady, New York

    ———————————————————–

    Thermionic Electron Emission will increase 1000x with a thoriated cathode ?

    why not add thorium to the cathode to the thermionic emitter to product beta rays..( high energy electrons ) to produce electric current ?

    Magnetic Cobalt 60 or Thorium and other radioactive beta ray emitting metals might be too hot and melt ?

    see
    Hot cathode

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cathode#Thoriated_filaments

    these radioactive inventions with radioactive Cobalt 60 magnets help stop global warming ?

    I emailed the US Senate concerning the need for an American ice cemetery to give people hope for a medical resurrection of the dead body..at the bottom of the email I wrote about my failed patent application from 1997 – 2008 titled Resurrection Burial Tomb that held about 25 radioactive machines to save money ( and greenhouse gases ) ..it was the worst time of my life…I called the White House on 9 -10-2001 because I feared I was about to be attacked about these devices..then 9-11 -2001 happened.

    I actually do not know if these radioactive inventions will save money on fuel and reduce greenhouse gases…they may as I thought magnetic radioactive cobalt 60 magnets are HOT…then i just read if magnets get hot they loose their magnetic force…so radioactive cobalt 60 magnets might not be hot after all…I do not know…attached are the letter I wrote to the US Senate by email and I am attaching the invention drawings and description ( failed US patent application/s from 2008 and before Ser. No. 09/619,698 filed Jul. 19, 2000)

    ” PS I also attached old inventions of mine including a Resurrection burial Tomb…please note that many of the electric devices are too Hot to operate and therefore lack usefulness..some of them…best wishes improving them “

  5. Thermionic Electron Emissions ( electric power ) will increase 1000x with a thoriated cathode ?

    video How a Thermionic Converter Works – Model Demonstration

    Clean electric energy production is important – what if the energy of thorium electrons or cobalt 60 magnets in a gas field or other type systems can be converted cheaply to electric power ?

    If the below is improved it may generate 1000x more Thermionic Electron Emissions with a thoriated cathode ?

    How a Thermionic Converter Works – Model Demonstration

    https://youtu.be/K5GVrYcjBKs

    Direct production of electric power from heat – C. Guy Suits of the GE Research Lab shows us how a Thermionic generator works. A simple model to show the average person the basics they need to know. caesium vapor between the electrodes determines surface and plasmas properties. we use caesium because it is most easily ionized. Video by the Edison Tech Center in Schenectady, New York

    ———-

    Thermionic Electron Emission will increase 1000x with a thoriated cathode ?

    why not add thorium to the cathode to the thermionic emitter to product beta rays..( high energy electrons ) to produce electric current ?

    Magnetic Cobalt 60 or Thorium and other radioactive beta ray emitting metals might be too hot and melt ?

    see
    Hot cathode

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cathode#Thoriated_filaments

    Radioactive devices with magnetic Cobalt 60 magnets was US patent application ..application Ser. No. 10/161,974 filed June 4, 2002

    I emailed the US Senate concerning the need for an American ice cemetery to give people hope for a medical resurrection of the dead body..at the bottom of the email I wrote about my failed patent application from 1997 – 2008 titled Resurrection Burial Tomb that held about 25 radioactive machines to save money ( and greenhouse gases ) ..it was the worst time of my life…I called the White House on 9 -10-2001 because I feared I was about to be attacked about these devices..then 9-11 -2001 happened.

    I actually do not know if these radioactive inventions will save money on fuel and reduce greenhouse gases…they may as I thought magnetic radioactive cobalt 60 magnets are HOT…then i just read if magnets get hot they loose their magnetic force…so radioactive cobalt 60 magnets might not be hot after all…I do not know…attached are the letter I wrote to the US Senate by email and I am attaching the invention drawings and description ( failed US patent application/s from 2008 and before Ser. No. 09/619,698 filed Jul. 19, 2000)

    I also attached old inventions of mine including a Resurrection Burial Tomb ( for a medical resurrection ) …please note that many of the electric devices are too Hot to operate and therefore lack usefulness..some of them…best wishes improving them “

  6. Many years ago back when I first learned of quantum entanglement I remember being excited as I imagined an EV car battery that was capable of being recharged remotely at some large, efficient power plant and “recharges” being sold to customers like paying a power bill. Good to know my 9th grade education is still serving me well even if i dont have the ambition or common sense to put a good thing to use. I will just have to live vicariously through the lives of our scientists who are the real heroes of our world.

  7. Give me 2 tesla vehicles,2 engineers,1fabricator,1 physicist, and 2 thermal dynamic specialists, and 1 master electrician. With just 2 hours invested in each seperate dept. And 2 hours invested in 1 meeting with all fields Together,.. and I could deliver in just 1 week a fully opperational E.V. with 130% efficacy. With an additional schematic for tomorrows energy & transit infrastructures, finished 110% clean energies for all of societies basic electrical needs/aka/ all normal powergrids being “entangled” as 1 reciprocating living power system. 0% lost energy just 100%
    GR’N◇N’RG
    Just like the “Internet OF Things” nevertheless. The Perfect E-vehicle,.. is no further away than a conversation with the right people in 1 room. (I could do it by my self..but I am poor,with -0* resources to utilize. I could make it happen in 1 video conferance with said specialists. Really its just 1 apparatus i came up with no bigger than your hand. To modify an E.V. into..a Rest>less E.V.

  8. No such thing as a free lunch in the material world. If they started using these widescale, you would hear complaints that the entanglement engines are draining my quantuum energy field. The best script change in history goes to Star Trek, who later in the show’s run, limited warp speed use because warp waves were causing dimensional pollution.

  9. “Star Trek, who later in the show’s run, limited warp speed use because warp waves were causing dimensional pollution.” That’s the reason why no one watches Star Trek anymore.

  10. Teafaye Tadesse | October 19, 2020 at 10:31 pm | Reply

    I love quantum physics and I know at some stage the whole world will benefit from it. Trouble is authorities here in my country with best physics education failed to appreciate my latest try to convince them to clean a lake infested by Water Hyacinth using an iQPR Technology which is based on Quantum Physics. It is a tragedy that they chose for cutting the Water Hyacinth instead a useless process too expensive and finally has no result.
    What can I do now to convince these educated people? Please advise.

  11. … in a CPT anti Universe, what would Entropy looks like? …

  12. Entanglement as fuel is really intriguing — any way you can have some of the entangled particles on earth and others on the sun? And download power that way?

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