The study of open quantum systems often relies on approximate master equations derived under the assumptions of weak coupling to the environment. However when the system is made of several interacting subsystems such a derivation is in many cases very hard. An alternative method, employed especially in the modeling of transport in mesoscopic systems, consists in using local master equations (LMEs) containing Lindblad operators acting locally only on the corresponding subsystem. It has been shown that this approach however generates inconsistencies with the laws of thermodynamics. In this paper we demonstrate that using a microscopic model of LMEs based on repeated collisions all thermodynamic inconsistencies can be resolved by correctly taking into account the breaking of global detailed balance related to the work cost of maintaining the collisions. We provide examples based on a chain of quantum harmonic oscillators whose ends are connected to thermal reservoirs at different temperatures. We prove that this system behaves precisely as a quantum heat engine or refrigerator, with properties that are fully consistent with basic thermodynamics.

We investigate both entanglement and energy transport properties for two-level systems in the vicinity of a photonic topological insulator (PTI) interface, which supports a nonreciprocal (unidirectional), scattering-immune and topologically-protected surface plasmon polariton in the bandgap of the bulk material. Moreover, we demonstrate that despite the presence of considerable imperfections at the interface of the PTI, the efficiency of the SPP-assisted energy transport is almost unaffected by discontinuities. We also show that the SPP properties allow energy transport over considerably much larger distances then in the reciprocal case, and we point out a particularly simple way to tune the transport. Finally, we analyze the specific case of a two-emitter-chain and unveil the origin of the efficiency amplification. The efficiency amplification and the practical advantages highlighted in this work might be particularly useful in the development of new devices intended to manage energy at the atomic scale, e.g. in quantum technologies.

Photonic topological insulator plates violate Lorentz reciprocity, which leads to a directionality of surfaceguided modes. This in-plane directionality can be imprinted via an applied magnetic field. On the basis of macroscopic quantum electrodynamics in nonreciprocal media, we show that two photonic topological insulator surfaces are subject to a tunable, magnetic-field-dependent Casimir torque. Due to the directionality, this torque exhibits a unique 2π periodicity, in contradistinction to the Casimir torques encountered for reciprocal uniaxial birefringent media or corrugated surfaces which are π periodic. Remarkably, the torque direction and strength can be externally driven in situ by simply applying a magnetic field on the system, and we show that this can be exploited to induce a control of the rotation of small objects. Our predictions are relevant for nanooptomechanical experiments and devices.

We investigate the quantum optical torque on an atom interacting with an inhomogeneous electromagnetic environment described by the most general linear constitutive relations. The atom is modeled as a two-level system prepared in an arbitrary initial energy state. Using the Heisenberg equation of motion (HEM) and under the Markov approximation, we show that the optical torque has a resonant and nonresonant part, associated, respectively, with a spontaneous-emission process and Casimir-type interactions with the quantum vacuum, which can both be written explicitly in terms of the system Green function. Our formulation is valid for any three-dimensional inhomogeneous, dissipative, dispersive, nonreciprocal, and bianisotropic structure. We apply this general theory to a scenario in which the atom interacts with a material characterized by strong nonreciprocity and modal unidirectionality. In this case, the main decay channel of the atom energy is represented by the unidirectional surface waves launched at the nonreciprocal material-vacuum interface. To provide relevant physical insight into the role of these unidirectional surface waves in the emergence of nontrivial optical torque, we derive closed-form expressions for the induced torque under the quasistatic approximation. Finally, we investigate the equilibrium states of the atom polarization, along which the atom spontaneously tends to align due to the action of the torque. Our theoretical predictions may be experimentally tested with cold Rydberg atoms and superconducting qubits near a nonreciprocal material. We believe that our general theory may find broad application in the context of nanomechanical and biomechanical systems.

The Casimir force arises from the quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. It leads to an attraction between electrically neutral bodies with a vacuum gap that be- comes measureable at nanoscale separations. Under the trend of miniaturization, such quantum electrodynamical effects are expected to play an important role in nanomechanical devices. One remarkable property of the Casimir force is its non-trivial dependence on the shape of the in- teracting bodies. Experiments using the corrugated surface of gratings have demonstrated the deviation of the Casimir force from the proximity force approximation. In these experiments, it was necessary to choose one of the bodies to be a sphere to circumvent alignment difficulties.Here, we present measurement of the Casimir force gradient between two microfabricated silicon beams, both of which contain rectangular corrugations. One of the beams acts as the forcesensing element. As it vibrates in a perpendicular magnetic field, a back electromotive force is generated and the corresponding change in the current is measured. The force gradient exerted on this beam is measured from the resonance frequency shift. The distance to the other beam is controlled using a comb actuator integrated on the same substrate, where electrostatic forces push the second beam towards the force-sensing beam. By using lithography to define the structures, they are aligned to allow the two gratings to interpenetrate when the separation between them is reduced. Our data shows a number of novel features, including strong deviations of the force gradient from the proximity force approximation and a non-zero, distance-independent Casimir force over certain range of displacement.We will also discuss the design of a bridge to measure the difference in Casimir forces on two types of surfaces. By fabricating an additional sensing beam next to the original one and measuring their resonant frequency shifts simultaneously in the same experimental run, the difference in the Casimir force gradient of two different geometries can be compared.