Quantum thermal machines and batteries

Understand

The seminal work by Sadi Carnot in the early nineteenth century provided the blueprint of a reversible heat engine and the celebrated second law of thermodynamics eventually followed.

• Almost two centuries later, the quest to formulate a quantum theory of the thermodynamic laws has thus unsurprisingly motivated physicists to visualise what are known as `quantum thermal machines' (QTMs).
• In this article, we review the prominent developments achieved in the theoretical construction as well as understanding of QTMs, beginning from the formulation of their earliest prototypes to recent models.
• We also present a detailed introduction and highlight recent progress in the rapidly developing field of `quantum batteries'.