Quantum catalysis-enhanced extract energy in qubit quantum battery

Abstract

What physical mechanism enables quantum catalysis to boost quantum battery (QB) performance in open systems? We investigate an external-field-driven qubit QB coupled to a harmonic oscillator catalyst, revealing a key thermodynamic mechanism: the catalyst induces transient negative heat flow ($J(t)<0$, or energy backflow) into the battery. This backflow actively counters dephasing losses, rapidly pushing the qubit into non-passive states, and results in a drastic enhancement of extractable work (Ergotropy). Leveraging the quantum first law, we precisely quantify this causal link between negative heat flux and QB performance enhancement. Our work uncovers the fundamental role of transient thermodynamic backflow in quantum catalysis, offering a crucial blueprint for high-performance quantum energy storage devices.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: Externally driven qubit $\text{QB}$, coupled to a harmonic oscillator catalyst for enhanced charging, while subject to dephasing and dissipation.
• Figure 2: (Color online) Ergotropy dynamics with/without catalyst for varying parameters: (a) $\omega_{c}$, (b) g, (c)$\kappa_{1}$, (d)$\gamma_{D}$. The green dashed lines show the catalyst energy, remaining nearly constant during the dynamics. The red curves denote the ergotropy without the catalyst, while the other curves display the catalysis-enhanced ergotropy under different parameter settings.
• Figure 3: (Color online) Time evolution of the energy flux of the qubit $\text{QB}$. The red dashed curves show the dynamics in the absence of the catalyst (uncatalyzed protocol), while the colored solid curves illustrate the catalyst-assisted energy flux dynamics under the modulation of four distinct parameters: (a) $\omega_{c}$, (b) g, (c)$\kappa_{1}$, (d)$\gamma_{D}$, highlighting the catalytic modification of energy-transfer pathways.