Experimental extraction and dynamics of ergotropy in open quantum systems
Phys. Rev. A 113, 052210 – Published 11 May, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/prsk-v1q2
Abstract
We experimentally investigate the dynamics of ergotropy in an open quantum system subject to dissipation by using a linear-optical setup. The total ergotropy, together with its coherent and incoherent components, is extracted at distinct stages of the system's evolution. Our findings reveal that the incoherent ergotropy undergoes sudden vanishing within a finite time, a process that accelerates with increasing environmental temperature. In contrast, the coherent ergotropy exhibits stronger robustness against dissipation. In the non-Markovian regime, the total ergotropy displays oscillatory revivals, with the incoherent component reemerging after a period of complete disappearance. Furthermore, by tracking the passive energy of the system, we demonstrate the evolutionary interplay between useful and useless forms of energy.
