Research Projects

The use of quantum resources to perform technological tasks more efficiently lies at the heart of present research activities. As some specific quantum systems are ideal for some particular purposes, like photons for communications and spin systems for memory,  it is beneficial to work on hybrid systems for quantum technologies (QT). Moreover, it is also required that QT be not only more efficient than its classical counterpart but also energetically favourable. We aim to explore the energetics of QT based on optical, optomechanical, atom-photon interacting, and many-body (MB) systems.   We find that the most fruitful studies on QT, are those in which the theories are developed and experimentally verified simultaneously, with mutual feedback. Therefore, though the proposal is theoretical, we intend to work on topics of practical significance that can be implemented experimentally with current technological tools. One of the prime energy losses in information processing and computation is the dissipation of energy due to the erasure of information as followed by the Landauer erasure principle (LEP). The computers use a million times more energy per operation than the Landauer bound (LB), as the LB is achieved in infinite time. We aim to investigate the erasing cost in finite time, when the system-bath correlation cannot be ignored, and when the dynamics also exhibit non-Markovian (NM) features. It will be interesting to explore how one can exploit the NM features and quantum criticality in MB systems to reduce the energy loss due to erasing. Moreover, how the LEP changes when we approach T = 0 temperature and encounter an environment that is out of thermal equilibrium are also important aspects to explore.  Furthermore, instead of simply dumping the heat produced in QT, can we store it as work? There has been a lot of interest in the quantification of work extraction from quantum states. However, experimentation is far behind the theoretical advancements. Therefore, we plan to investigate work extraction in optical, optomechanical, light-matter interacting, and MB systems using the tools and techniques that can be realised in the present experimental scenario. Exploring the role of quantum criticality in work extraction will also be explored. Limitations of Gaussian operations and the scope of experimentally feasible non-Gaussian operations in work extraction will be explored. Special emphasis will be given to autonomous work extraction protocols. Along with work extraction and minimising energy cost due to erasing, storing, and delivering energy at our demand is needed which necessitates the need for efficient quantum batteries (QBs). We aim to explore the role of quantum resources, quantum criticality, and ergodic to localised transitions in MB systems in enhancing the charging power, capacity, and delivering power of a QB. It would be interesting but challenging to explore QB in a noisy environment which is a very less explored domain.