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  • Open Access

High-efficiency thermoelectric transport in Aharonov-Bohm-Casher rings

Diego García1,2, Sergio Arias1,3, and Rosa López1,*

  • *Contact author: rosa.lopez-gonzalo@uib.es
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023020 – Published 7 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/h3b3-l1jd

Abstract

Quantum heat engines are nanoscale devices that convert heat into work by exploiting quantum effects, such as coherence and interference. Previous studies of these devices did not consider spin-dependent effects, which can influence the thermoelectric performance of the engine. In this work, we study the thermoelectric behavior of a quantum heat engine based on an Aharonov-Bohm ring—a mesoscopic ring where electrons exhibit interference depending on the magnetic flux it encloses—incorporating Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI), which couples the electron's motion and spin. We find that Rashba SOI enhances the figure of merit ZT, a measure of the engine's conversion efficiency. Our results suggest that controlling spin-dependent interference could lead to improvements in the fabrication of efficient thermoelectric devices.

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References (33)

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023020– Published 7 April, 2026
  • Received 4 November 2025
  • Accepted 6 March 2026
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