A quantum device

Abstract

A quantum device (10; 15) comprises: a non-reciprocal transmission structure (5, 6, 7; 13, 14), wherein the transmission structure is designed so that for a first wave passing through the transmission structure in a forward direction, the phase of the first wave is at least partially conserved, and for a second wave passing through the transmission structure in a backward direction, the phase of the second wave is at least partially replaced by a random phase, so that the phase conservation in the forward direction is more obvious than that in the backward direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a quantum device comprising a non-reciprocal transmission structure. The disclosed quantum device comprises a transmission asymmetry based on asymmetric phase transmission of waves. The present invention also relates to a method of operating the quantum device and the use of one or more of the quantum devices in a variety of different devices. Background Art

[0002] To illustrate the background technology, the following prior art is referred to:

[0003] 1. D. M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, 4th edition (2012).

[0004] 2.N.Bahlmann,M.Lohmeyer,M.Wallenhorst,H. P. Hertel, Optical and Quantum Electronics, 30, 323 (1998).

[0005] 3. RJ Potton, Rep. Prog. Phys, 67, 717 (2004).

[0006] 4. R. Fleury, DL Sounas, CF Sieck, MR Haberman, A. Alù, Science, 343, 518 (2014).

[0007] 5. AAMukhin, AMKuzmenko, V.Yu Ivanov, AGPimenov, AM Shuvaev, VED Ziom, Progress in Physical Science (Physics-Uspekhi), 58, 993 (2015).

[0008] 6. A.C. Mahoney et al., Phys. Rev. X, 7, 011007 (2017).

[0009] 7. J. Mannhart, J. Supercond. Novel. Magn, 31, 1649 (2018).

[0010] 8. I. Rashba, Sov. Phys. Solid State, 2, 1109 (1960).

[0011] 9. T. Chakraborty, A. Manaselyan, M. Barseghyan, “Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of quantum rings in novel systems,” in V.M. Fomin, Physics of Quantum Rings (Springer, 2018).

[0012] 10. Y. Aharonov, D. Bohm, Phys. Rev. B, 115, 485 (1959).

[0013] 11. M. Planck, Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft, 2, 245 (1900).

[0014] 12. C. Elouard, D. Herrera-Martí, B. Huard, A. Auffèves, Phys. Rev. Lett., 118, 260603 (2017).

[0015] 13. N. Cottet et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 114, 7561 (2017).

[0016] 14. JC Maxwell, Theory of Heat, Longman, Green & Co., 1871.

[0017] 15.Th.M.Nieuwenhuizen,AE Allahverdyan,Phys.Rev.E,036102(2002).

[0018] 16. Z. Merali, Nature, 551, 20, (2017).

[0019] 17. C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, F. Laloe, Quantum mechanics, Wiley, 2005.

[0020] 18. L.E. Reichl, *A Modern Course in Statistical Physics*, Edward Arnold, 1980.

[0021] 19. V. Capek and D.P. Sheehan, *Challenges to the Second Law of Thermodynamics*, Springer, 2005.

[0022] 20. Y. Imry, *Introduction to Mesoscopic Physics*, Oxford University Press (2002).

[0023] 21. P. Lodahl et al., *Nature*, 541, 473 (2017).

[0024] Non-reciprocal devices, i.e., devices that enable waves to pass through in one direction differently from the other direction, are widely used in radar technology [1] and the optical field [3]. For example, they are also implemented as devices based on plasmons, magnons, polaritons, and acoustic waves (see [2-6]). By using Rashba quantum rings [8, 9] or asymmetric Aharonov-Bohm rings

[10] , non-reciprocal devices for de Broglie waves can be realized. Based on the interference of particle wave functions, these devices enable particles to preferentially pass through in one direction. Summary of the Invention

[0025] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a quantum device including a non-reciprocal transmission structure, wherein the transmission structure is designed such that for a first wave passing through the transmission structure in the forward direction, the phase of the first wave is at least partially conserved, and for a second wave passing through the transmission structure in the backward direction, the phase of the second wave is at least partially replaced by a random phase, such that the phase conservation in the forward direction is more pronounced than in the backward direction.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a quantum device according to the first aspect, including providing a first wave to the quantum device, wherein the first wave includes quanta having energy obtained from a heat source or having an energy E of the order of kT, such that kT / 10 < E < 10kT, where T is the ambient temperature.

[0027] According to a third aspect of the present invention, one or more quantum devices according to the first aspect are used for one or more

[0028] Apparatus, wherein the first wave includes quanta having energy obtained from a heat source or having an energy E of the order of kT, such that kT / 10 < E < 10kT, where T is the ambient temperature;

[0029] An apparatus that utilizes at least partial collapse of coherent emission and wave function to achieve deviation from one or more of the zeroth, second, or third laws of thermodynamics;

[0030] An apparatus that utilizes at least partial collapse of quantum mechanical superposition and wave function to achieve deviation from one or more of the zeroth, second, or third laws of thermodynamics;

[0031] An apparatus that utilizes at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of coherent emission and wave function or at least partial collapse of quantum mechanical superposition and wave function to generate or enhance the inhomogeneity of the energy distribution density of waves or particles in a system;

[0032] An apparatus that utilizes at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of coherent emission and wave function or at least partial collapse of quantum mechanical superposition and wave function to take a system out of thermal equilibrium;

[0033] An apparatus that utilizes at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of coherent emission and wave function or at least partial collapse of quantum mechanical superposition and wave function to achieve generation of a temperature difference within one object or between multiple objects;

[0034] An apparatus comprising an interferometer; and

[0035] An apparatus comprising an analog or digital system for quantum computing, quantum data transmission, or quantum data storage;

[0036] An apparatus comprising an interferometer; and

[0037] An apparatus that performs quantum computing, quantum data transmission, quantum data storage, heating, cooling, matter transfer, energy transfer, or power generation.

[0038] Those skilled in the art can recognize additional features and advantages after reading the following detailed description and considering the drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0039] The drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the embodiments. Many other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of the embodiments become better understood by reference to the following detailed description.

[0040] Figure 1 Including Figure 1 A and Figure 1B, shows a schematic block diagram (A) and a symbol diagram (B) of a first embodiment of a quantum device according to the first aspect, wherein the embodiment is based on a four-port circulator, which includes two hybrid couplers and a phase shifter, wherein the phase shifter is connected between the hybrid coupler and two black body radiators arranged at respective two ports.

[0041] Figure 2 include Figure 2 A-2C, shows Figure 1 A quantum device wherein a first transmission path extending from a first port to a second port is labeled (A), Figure 1 A quantum device wherein a second transmission path extending from the second port to the first port is labeled (B), and Figure 1 A quantum device wherein a third transmission path extending from the second port to the third port is labeled (C).

[0042] Figure 3 include Figure 3 A and 3B show a second embodiment of a quantum device according to the first aspect. Figure 3 Shows the wave Figure 3 A from subject A to subject B and in Figure 3 B is a time series of propagation from body B to body A, with the phase values ​​of the waves indicated, where two bold bodies C and D are inserted into the path between bodies A and B in the time series shown.

[0043] Figure 4 include Figure 4 A and 4B, and for illustrative purposes show an example of an optical double-slit interferometer in which a black body radiator is filled in both slits (A) and an example of a double-slit interferometer in which a quantum device according to the first aspect is filled in both slits (B).

[0044] Figure 5 include Figure 5 A and 5B, show Figure 5 The double-slit interferometer in B is arranged in a cavity including reflective walls, where coherent radiation impinges on the interferometer in a backward direction relative to the quantum device (A) and in a forward direction relative to the quantum device (B).

[0045] Figure 6 include Figure 6 A and 6B, and show a commercial three-port optical circulator in perspective view (A) and functional schematic (B).

[0046] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an interferometer is shown, the interferometer comprising an optical fiber, two quantum devices according to the first aspect and a coherent radiating atom inserted into the optical fiber and a screen for receiving a light diffraction pattern.

[0047] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of an interferometer is shown, the interferometer comprising an optical path including coherent radiation atoms, two highly reflective mirrors for collecting coherent radiation, a semi-transparent mirror, and two black body radiators.

[0048] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of an example of an electron interferometer is shown, which includes an electron source, two quantum devices, two resistors, and transmission paths connecting the electron source to the quantum devices and connecting the quantum devices to the resistors.

[0049] Figure 10 includes Figure 10(a) and 10(b) , illustrates the principle of another example, in which a two-level system TLS is asymmetrically coupled to the left and right moving channels of a chiral waveguide, wherein the TLS interacts with the photons propagating in the waveguide in a nonlinear manner and phase-breaks with different intensities, so that the coupling between the TLS and the waveguide is specified by two different coupling parameters g1 and g2 (a) and an implementation device of the principle shown in (a), wherein the waveguide is closed into a loop and coupled with cavities A and B to act as a black body (b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In the following description, the terms "coupled", "connected" and other derivative words may be used. It should be understood that these terms may be used to indicate that two components cooperate or interact with each other, regardless of whether they are in direct mechanical or electrical contact, or they are not in direct mechanical or electrical contact, which means that there may be one or more intermediate components between the two components.

[0051] In the following, the terms "absorber", "emitter" or "absorber / emitter" may be used. It should be understood that these terms are to be understood as any kind of component that can absorb or emit any kind of waves, particles and quasiparticles and any kind of radiation. These terms refer specifically to blackbody radiators (see next paragraph), but also to, for example, resistors that can absorb or emit electrons.

[0052] In the following, the terms "black body" and "black body radiator" and their derivatives may be used. It should be understood that the terms are used to refer to objects in a broad sense, including solids, liquids, gases or plasmas that can emit or absorb thermal radiation. The object may not be 100% black (such an object does not exist at all), nor may it be designed as a textbook black body radiator consisting of a hollow body with a small opening.

[0053] The term "wave" is used to describe any wave associated with a quantum object, such as waves of photons or de Broglie waves of particles or quasiparticles. The waves considered are those generated / modified by elementary interaction processes that must be described quantum mechanically and can undergo quantum mechanical collapse under the conditions detailed in

[20] . In addition, the term "wave" also includes wave packets, such as those with a Gaussian envelope function.

[0054] The term "collapse" is used to describe any process that causes a quantum mechanical state to at least partially become decoupled.

[0055] The non-reciprocal device of the present invention breaks the symmetry of phase conservation of an object, depending on the direction in which the object passes through the device. The object can be a particle, such as an electron, or a wave, such as a photon. In order to preserve the average energy and momentum of the object, the device can act like a transparent or even open window in the forward direction, but like a black body radiator, or more generally an absorber / emitter, with incoherent output, in the reverse direction.

[0056] In the following description and claims of quantum devices, it should be noted that the term "quantum device" is to be understood in a broad sense. With regard to the function of the device disclosed herein, such a device basically acts as a non-reciprocal filter for matter waves or electromagnetic waves, such as any kind of photons, particle waves, quasiparticle waves. With regard to its structure, it can be understood as an artificial or man-made structure, for example, an electrical wire is manufactured using different technological methods, including integrated circuit technology. However, it can also be understood as containing or consisting of chemical components, for example, molecules, molecular compounds, molecular rings (such as benzene rings with side groups), etc. In addition, it can also refer to solid compounds, such as having a crystal structure that performs the function of the device, or to structures manufactured using such a crystal structure.

[0057] Generally, no external forces are necessary to drive the particles into the device, other than a heat bath with a temperature T>0 K. Thus, in the quantum device examples shown and described below, the device works because particles like photons or electrons are only excited or move only due to their thermal excitation.

[0058] Furthermore, the term "transmission path" may, but need not be, understood as a physical body. In some devices, a physical body, such as a wire or a waveguide, may include a transmission path. In some other devices, such a physical body may include two transmission paths, i.e., two opposite directions of particles passing through the physical body. In some other devices, the term should not be understood as a tangible or physical body made of a specific material. Rather, it is understood as a virtual path of a particle or wave in space, which may even be placed in, for example, a gas atmosphere.

[0059] Note that, as used below, an opening, such as a slit, can include multiple transmission paths. This can be understood by the diffraction of light through a slit. Here, a characteristic single slit diffraction pattern is formed due to the phase difference of multiple transmission paths passing through the slit at different positions or angles.

[0060] It should also be noted that the terms "slit" and "double slit" may refer to a variety of geometries and systems. For example, the opening of the slit may not be completely open and transparent. More than one or two slits may also be used, and the slits may also be configured, for example, in arrangements that are often described as zone plates, metamaterials, or optical crystals.

[0061] Likewise, the term "atom" may refer to a single atom or molecule, or to a plurality of atoms, molecules, or particles that behave like a single atom, with or without superradiance. The term also includes defects in solids, such as color centers, which can absorb and emit waves like atoms.

[0062] Furthermore, the term "random" is used here not only to describe a completely random process, but also to describe, for example, a phase distribution that is irregular, so that interference events between waves with such phases are significantly suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, the term "phase coherent" does not necessarily mean that no inelastic phase-break scattering occurs in the device. In fact, as shown in

[11] , some inelastic scattering, such as phonon scattering, is compatible with phase coherence of the portion of the waves that is not affected by the scattering and may be beneficial or even necessary for the operation of the device in some cases. Therefore, the term "phase coherent" should be understood to include the absence of inelastic phase-break scattering in the particle transport in the device, or also to include the presence of such events, provided that there is a portion of the wave whose phase is not affected by the phase-break scattering events.

[0064] In addition, any features, notes or annotations mentioned in relation to one or more quantum devices or the use of one or more quantum devices should be understood to also disclose corresponding method features or method steps for making the quantum devices function, or for implementing the quantum devices in any kind of larger device or system and driving the quantum devices so that the larger device or system achieves its intended function.

[0065] Figure 1 include Figure 1 A and 1B, and Figure 1 A is a schematic block diagram of a quantum device according to a first embodiment. Figure 1A quantum device 10 includes a non-reciprocal transmission structure that can be connected between a first port 1 and a second port 2. The transmission structure is designed so that for a first wave passing through the transmission structure in a forward direction from the first port 1 to the second port 2, the phase of the first wave is conserved, and for a second wave passing through the transmission structure in a backward direction from the second port 2 to the first port 1, the phase of the second wave is replaced by a random phase generated by a black body 8 having a temperature T.

[0066] according to Figure 1 In the example shown in A, the transmission structure includes a first hybrid coupler 5, a second hybrid coupler 6 and a phase shifter 7, wherein the two hybrid couplers 5 and 6 are connected to each other, and the phase shifter 7 is connected between the two hybrid couplers 5 and 6. Figure 1 In the example shown in A, the quantum device 10 includes a four-port circulator, which includes a first port 1 and a second port 2, a third port 3 and a fourth port 4. An absorber / emitter 8 and 9 can be configured at each of the third port 3 and the fourth port 4. In the case of an optical device using electromagnetic waves in the visible or infrared spectrum, for example, such an absorber / emitter can be composed of a black body radiator, or in the case of a microwave device using electromagnetic waves in the microwave band, it can be composed of a resistor.

[0067] The main functions of the hybrid couplers 5 and 6 are as described in [1] on page 322. When a signal enters the hybrid coupler in one of the upper or lower transmission paths, it will receive a phase shift of π / 2 when it changes to the corresponding other transmission path. When it stays horizontally on its transmission path, it will not receive a phase shift. A signal passing through the phase shifter 7 in the direction of the arrow will receive a phase shift of π, and if it passes through the phase shifter 7 in the opposite direction, no phase shift will occur.

[0068] Accordingly, the signal path through the transmission structure will be as follows Figure 2 Described in A to 2C.

[0069] Figure 2 A shows Figure 1 A quantum device 10 is shown in which two transmission paths from a first port 1 to a second port 2 are labeled. The first transmission path, labeled with the letter A, experiences a total phase shift of π / 2 because there is no phase shift when passing horizontally through the first hybrid coupler 5 and the phase shifter 7, but a phase shift of π / 2 when passing through the second hybrid coupler 6. The second transmission path is labeled with the letter B and has a total phase shift of π / 2. This phase shift is caused by applying a phase shift of π / 2 to the signal when passing through the first hybrid coupler 5, and there is no phase shift when passing through the second hybrid coupler 6. Therefore, since both transmission paths A and B experience a phase shift of π / 2, the respective waves interfere constructively when they meet in the second hybrid coupler 6 and then leave the second hybrid coupler 6 at port 2.

[0070] Figure 2 B shows Figure 1 A quantum device 10 is shown in which two transmission paths from the second port 2 to the first port 1 are marked. The first transmission path marked with the letter C experiences a total phase shift of 3×π / 2 because the first phase shift is π / 2 when passing through the second hybrid coupler 6, the second phase shift is π when passing through the phase shifter 7, and there is no phase shift when passing horizontally through the first hybrid coupler 5. The second transmission path marked with the letter D experiences a total phase shift of π / 2 because there is no phase shift when passing horizontally through the second hybrid coupler 6, and there is a phase shift of π / 2 when passing through the first hybrid coupler 5.

[0071] Since the first transmission path C experiences a phase shift of 3×π / 2 and the second transmission path D experiences a phase shift of π / 2, the two transmission paths C and D have a phase difference of π when they merge in the first hybrid coupler 5, which means that they interfere destructively so that zero signal will leave the device 10 at the first port 1.

[0072] Figure 2 C shows Figure 1 A quantum device 10 is shown in which two transmission paths from the second port 2 to the third port 3 are marked. The total phase shift of the first transmission path marked with the letter E is 2π, because the first phase shift is π / 2 when passing through the second hybrid coupler 6, the second phase shift is π when passing through the phase shifter 7, and the third phase shift is π / 2 when passing through the first hybrid coupler 5. The second of these transmission paths is marked with the letter F. The total phase shift of this path is 0, because there is no phase shift when passing horizontally through the second hybrid coupler 6, and there is no phase shift when passing through the first hybrid coupler 5.

[0073] Since transmission path E experiences a phase shift of 2π and transmission path F experiences a phase shift of 0, the two transmission paths E and F will have a phase difference of 2π when they meet in the first hybrid coupler 5 , which means that they interfere constructively and then leave the device 10 at the third port 3 .

[0074] It should be added that if Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 3 , the same situation occurs for a wave entering the quantum device 10 at the third port 3 and propagating to the fourth port 4, which means that the corresponding partial waves propagating on the two transmission paths between the third port 3 and the fourth port 4 will interfere constructively when they converge in the second hybrid coupler 6 and then leave the device 10 at the fourth port 4.

[0075] Therefore, the wave fed into the quantum device 10 at the first port 1 is transmitted to the second port 2 without distortion, and the wave fed into the quantum device 10 at the second port 2 will be absorbed by the black body radiator 8 arranged at the third port 3. This absorption causes a quantum mechanical collapse of the wave function

[17] . This collapse causes the loss of the wave phase information, so the dissipative coupling of the absorbed wave with the macroscopic environment (macroscopic bath) causes decoherence, making the quantum mechanical measurement process parallel

[17] . According to the statistical average, the black body radiators 8 and 9 generate a second wave, which then passes through the quantum device 10 and leaves at the first port 1, which conforms to the second law of thermodynamics. Therefore, the phase of the wave from the first port 1 to the second port 2 is conserved in its single evolution, but the phase of the wave leaving the quantum device 10 from the first port 1 is less or not related to the phase of the wave entering from the second port 2. In addition, the energy balance of the transfer process has non-reciprocity. The energy of the wave moving on the transmission path from the first port 1 to the second port 2 is strictly conserved, and the energy of the wave on the reverse transmission path from the second port 2 to the first port 1 is conserved only in a statistical average.

[0076] At this point it should be mentioned that quantum devices can have Figure 1 Another structure is shown. In particular, the hybrid couplers 5 and 6 may be of different nature, or may not even be present, as will be shown later. In addition, the ports 3 and 4 do not necessarily have to have a physical entity.

[0077] In general, it should be mentioned that quantum devices can be configured according to Figure 1 Quantum devices work on completely different principles. Figure 1 The quantum device is constructed as a static device and therefore contains inherent asymmetry. However, it is also possible to construct a quantum device containing movable elements so that the asymmetry is achieved through the movement of these elements under specific control. In addition, it is also possible to provide a quantum device that does not contain inherent asymmetry but exhibits asymmetry due to its embedding in a specific device or structure. Examples of the above will be shown and explained below.

[0078] The following Figure 3 Another embodiment of the quantum device according to the first aspect will be shown and explained. And as will be further demonstrated below, a simple form of the quantum device according to the first aspect may comprise a transmission structure that essentially comprises inelastic scattering centers for photons or electrons. It may also be implemented by a low-loss optical switch in the case of photons or a low-loss electronic switch in the case of electrons.

[0079] Figure 3 include Figure 3A and 3B, and shows a second embodiment of a quantum device according to the first aspect. Figure 3 The quantum device 15 includes a first body 11, a second body 12, a first blackbody 13, and a second blackbody 14.

[0080] Figure 3 A shows the passage of waves from the first body 11 to the second body 12 at four different time steps 1 - 4. Figure 3 B shows the propagation of waves from the second body 12 to the first body 11. The first and second bodies 11 and 12 can also be ports similar to ports 1 and 2 of the Figure 1 embodiment. The phase of the wave is denoted by φn, where n = 0, 1, 2. The first and second blackbodies 13 and 14 can be moved in and out of the path of the wave. For example, they can be formed by appropriately shaped rotating disks.

[0081] As Figure 3 shown, by appropriately moving the blackbodies 13 and 14 in the correct chronological order, the wave can be transmitted from the first body 11 to the second body 12 unhindered, as shown by the fact that its constant phase φ0 remains unchanged. However, the wave traveling in the reverse direction from the second body 12 to the first body 11 will be absorbed by at least one of the first and second blackbodies 13 and 14 and statistically re - emitted. Due to the collapse of the wave function, the initial phase information of the wave is lost. In Figure 3 the example shown in B, the wave with phase φn is absorbed by the second blackbody 14, which re - emits a wave with a random phase φ1. This wave is then absorbed by the first blackbody 13, which re - emits a wave with a random phase φ2. It should be noted that this embodiment can act on the entire spectrum of the blackbody radiator simultaneously.

[0082] A third embodiment of a quantum device according to the first aspect includes a transmission structure that includes a body that causes inelastic scattering with probability p and thus results in the loss of optical wave phase information, where this embodiment will be described in more detail in conjunction with Figure 4 , 5 , 7, and 8 embodiments.

[0083] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for operating a quantum device according to the first aspect includes: providing the first wave to the quantum device, where the first wave includes quanta having energy obtained from a heat source or having an energy E of the order of kT, such that kT / 10 < E < 10kT, where T is the ambient temperature.

[0084] The method of operating the quantum device according to the first aspect may alternatively or additionally be defined as comprising providing a first wave source, wherein the first wave source is in thermal equilibrium with an environment. The environment may be a natural environment, such as a room at room temperature, or a place under a natural environment. It may also be an artificial environment, such as a cavity containing the device, or a thermal environment (thermal bath) such as provided by a water bath or a thermal oven.

[0085] The method of operating a quantum device according to the first aspect may alternatively or additionally be defined as comprising providing a first wave source, wherein the first wave source is not actively excited, in particular not actively excited by non-thermal energy, whereby the source may be actively heated or cooled.

[0086] In the following, reference will be made to Figures 4 to 9 Possible applications of the quantum device according to the first aspect are shown and described.

[0087] Figure 4 include Figure 4 A and 4B, and concerns the possibility of using asymmetric phase transmission to produce asymmetric interference.

[0088] Figure 4 A is for illustration purposes only and shows an interferometer 20 comprising an interferometer plate 21 and two slits 21.1 and 21.2 formed side by side in the plate 21. The two slits 21.1 and 21.2 are filled with black body radiators 22.1 and 22.2, respectively. It is further shown in the figure what happens when coherent radiation impinges on the interferometer 20 from one of the two sides of the plate 21. The two black body radiators 22.1 and 22.2 will destroy the phase of the incident coherent wave and randomly emit another wave to the other side, which randomly emitted wave carries a random new phase. Therefore, the black body radiators 22.1 and 22.2 will emit incoherent radiation to either side of the plate 21, as shown by a bubble-like radiation cone, which generally follows the angular dependence described by Lambert's radiation law.

[0089] on the other hand, Figure 4 B shows an example of a possible application of the quantum device according to the first aspect. Interferometer 30 includes an interferometer plate 31 and two slits 31.1 and 31.2 formed side by side in interferometer plate 31. Quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 are inserted into slits 31.1 and 31.2, respectively. It is assumed that both quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 have the same orientation and also include the following: Figure 1 The quantum device 10 is shown in a directional orientation.

[0090] Figure 6 include Figure 6A and 6B, and a conventional commercial three-port optical circulator is shown to illustrate the manner in which the quantum device is inserted into the slits 31.1 and 31.2.

[0091] like Figure 6 As shown in A, the optical circulator comprises a form of an optical fiber device, which includes a first port 1 and a third port 3 at the lower left end and a second port 2 at the upper right end. Figure 6 The simplified diagram in B shows the possible paths that light waves can take into and out of the device. The names of the ports correspond to Figure 1 The name of the embodiment of , i.e., light incident on the device from the left must be coupled into the device at port 1 and then coherently exit the device at port 2, while light incident on the device from the right is coupled into the device at port 2 and then directed internally to port 3. There will be no external fiber connection at port 3. Instead, at port 3, a black body radiator is placed at the left output end of the device. In addition, there is no need for Figure 1 Port 4 is provided in the embodiment. Two such circulators are configured, each inserted into one of the two slits of the interferometer. The fiber ends at port 2 must be oriented in parallel directions so that they can work properly as a double slit.

[0092] Quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 can be based on Figure 1 or Figure 3 As mentioned above, the quantum devices 31.1 and 31.2 can also be realized by inelastic scatterers, such as gases or slightly opaque solids or clusters of scatterers.

[0093] exist Figure 4 Also shown in B is what happens when coherent radiation impinges on the interferometer 30 from either side of the interferometer plate 31. When the coherent radiation impinges on the interferometer plate 31 from the right side, that is, when the coherent wave passes through the quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 from the backward direction, it will become a pure black body radiator. Therefore, the coherent wave is absorbed into the black body radiators of the quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2, and the incoherent radiation with a random phase is emitted from any one of the quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 and radiates from the two slits 31.1 and 31.2 to the left side of the interferometer plate 31, as shown by the bubble-shaped radiation cone. On the other hand, if the coherent radiation impinges on the interferometer plate 31 from the left side, the coherent wave passes through the quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 from the forward direction, so that the phase of the coherent wave is conserved. Therefore, the coherent waves emitted to the right interfere constructively and produce the typical double-slit diffraction pattern as shown in the figure.

[0094] Figure 5 include Figure 5 A and 5B, and shows Figure 4 B is an extension of the interferometer 30, which may be a beneficial device.

[0095] Basically, the interferometer 30 is placed in a cavity 33 comprising walls 33A. The interferometer 30 is inserted into the cavity 33 in such a way that the interferometer plate 31 extends from one cavity wall to the other opposite cavity wall, thereby dividing the interior of the cavity 33 into two half-spaces separated from each other by the interferometer plate 31. The wall 33A of the left half of the cavity 33 has a mirror, while the wall 33A of the right half is black. The wall 33A is in thermal equilibrium with the external environment (external bath). The radiation from the left is generated by particles 34, such as carbon particles or atomic groups that act as black body radiators. In case the wavefront of the black body radiation on the left side of the cavity 33 hits the double slits 31.1 and 31.2 with a certain degree of phase coherence, a double slit diffraction pattern is formed in the right half of the cavity 33 (see Figure 5 B). Note that the phase coherence length of the thermal radiation in the cavity is not defined by Planck's spectral radiation density

[11] . The radiation from its right side consists essentially of blackbody radiation from the wall 33A of the right half, and it passes through the quantum devices 32.1 and 32.2 in the backward direction, resulting in incoherent radiation, as shown by the bubble-like cone in the left half (see Figure 5 A). Therefore, the spatial density of radiation in the two halves of the cavity 33 is different. The interference characteristics of the right half are non-uniform and may result in temperature differences between test bodies 35 placed at different positions in the cavity 33, one test body 35 being placed where the interference is maximum and the other test body 35 being placed where the interference of the diffraction pattern is minimum. The temperature difference sensed by the test bodies 35 can be converted into useful electricity, for example, by using a thermocouple arrangement. Obviously, the output power can be optimized, for example, by changing the temperature or geometry of the thermal environment in which the black body or atoms are fixed, or by changing the number of atoms that absorb and re-emit radiation.

[0096] It is noteworthy that this behavior is inconsistent with the zeroth law of thermodynamics and the second law of thermodynamics, as they are currently commonly understood and presented in textbooks

[18] . Some experts, such as the famous physicist Enrico Fermi, anticipated this disagreement [E. Fermi, Thermodynamics, Dover Publications, 1956]. In

[15] a hypothetical system is discussed that is claimed to show some disagreement between quantum physics and the second law of thermodynamics. However, as these authors point out, the disagreement is limited to quantum mechanical entangled states that exist only at very low temperatures because these entangled states are destroyed by decoherence processes. Moreover, the entanglement must be of the multi-particle type. These requirements make the proposed system impractical for practical implementation. In contrast, our proposal does not rely on entanglement, but on single-particle coherence. Directed decoherence (directional phase break) is even necessary to produce the effects that violate the second law, which can occur at arbitrary temperatures.

[0097] In fact, for decades people had been imagining what advantages a then-hypothetical device that violated the second law of thermodynamics might bring

[19] .

[0098] However, as experts and laymen know, see

[16] or

[19] , a practical device that would break the second law of thermodynamics, often called a perpetual motion machine of the second kind, is currently only conjectured. Current discussions focus on devices that use quantum effects that occur at temperatures close to absolute zero, in particular quantum entanglement, as summarized in

[16] . Due to the lack of ideas about how a practical device might work, these studies have never made the transition from conjectured devices to working devices. Indeed, most members of the scientific community believe that such a device, in principle, could never be built.

[0099] Figure 7 Another embodiment of possible application of the quantum device according to the first aspect is shown.

[0100] Figure 7 Another embodiment of an optical interferometer is shown. Figure 7The interferometer 40 comprises an optical fiber 41 incorporated into a cavity 43, the wall 43A of the cavity 43 being in thermal equilibrium with the external environment. A particle, such as an atom 42, is embedded in the middle of the length of the optical fiber 41, which can emit a single photon when excited, so that each photon propagates coherently in two directions of the optical fiber. The atom 42 is fixed to the thermal environment. The first and second quantum devices 45 and 46 provided according to the first aspect are incorporated into the optical fiber 41 in such a way that a quantum device 45 or 46 is arranged in two radiation directions of the radiation emitted by the atom 42, wherein the forward direction is downward and the backward direction is upward. The two quantum devices 45 and 46 can be identical. A screen 44 is provided below the optical fiber 41, which receives the radiation output by the first and second output ends 41.1 and 41.2 of the optical fiber 41.

[0101] As indicated by the white and black arrows, the radiation emitted by the atom 42 passes through the quantum devices 45, 46 and leaves the optical fiber 41 at its two ends 41.1 and 41.2 (white arrows), and the radiation emitted from the screen 44 is coupled to the optical fiber 41, strikes the quantum devices 45, 46, and then emits black body radiation to strike the atom 42 (black arrows).

[0102] In an ideal case, the two waves emitted by the atom 42 in two directions pass through the two quantum devices 45, 46 without interference, so they still coherent with each other with zero phase difference. When the two wavefronts leave the two ends 41.1 and 41.2 of the optical fiber 41, while still having at least some degree of phase correlation, a double-slit diffraction pattern is generated on the screen 44. In the reverse direction, the screen 44 and the diffraction pattern generate coherent light waves, which are coupled into the optical fiber 41 through the two optical fiber ends 41.1 and 41.2. More specifically, the interference maximum of the diffraction pattern on the screen 44 generates a coherent partial wave with zero phase difference in the optical fiber 41, and the interference minimum of the diffraction pattern on the screen 44 generates a coherent partial wave with a phase difference of π in the optical fiber 41. The two coherent partial waves hit the quantum devices 45, 46, where their wave functions collapse. Therefore, the quantum devices 45, 46 generate waves with random phases, which hit the atom 42 and are absorbed by the atom 42. Then, the atom 42 starts again to generate coherent partial waves which are emitted to the right and to the left with a relative phase difference of zero.

[0103] Since the absorbing test bodies (not shown) located inside and outside the diffraction peaks receive different amounts of incident radiation, respectively, the temperature of the test body in thermal equilibrium inside will begin to differ from the temperature of the test body that was initially in thermal equilibrium with the walls of the cavity. Again, this temperature difference can be converted into useful electrical energy, for example by using a thermocouple arrangement. The arrangement can obviously also be used to heat or cool an object, using the thermal energy of the thermal environment as an energy source.

[0104] Quantum devices 45 and 46 can be based on Figure 1 or Figure 3 One of the embodiments shown is implemented. As mentioned above, quantum devices 45 and 46 can also be implemented by inelastic scatterers.

[0105] Figure 8 Another example of a possible application of the quantum device according to the first aspect is shown.

[0106] Figure 8 Another form of interferometer is shown. Figure 8 The interferometer 50 shown comprises a reflective cavity 51 with an open end containing coherent radiation particles (e.g., atoms 52), first and second high reflective mirrors 53 and 54, two quantum devices 55 and 56, a semi-transmissive mirror 57, and first and second black body radiators 58 and 59. The atom 52 is fixed to a thermal environment. The two quantum devices 55 and 56 are set as quantum devices according to the first aspect and can be identical. The arrows indicate their respective forward directions, in which phase coherence is maintained.

[0107] The reflective cavity 51 includes two opposite openings for two light beams to be emitted from the reflective cavity 51 in two opposite directions. The first and second high reflective mirrors 53 and 54 respectively deflect the two light beams into two optical paths, which ideally pass through the quantum devices 55 and 56 without interference and then converge at the semi-transmissive mirror 57 (i.e., an asymmetric beam splitter). By orienting the metal coating of the semi-transmissive mirror 57 to the left, the device is configured so that the light beams without phase difference from the two quantum devices 55 and 56 are only deflected onto the first black body radiator 58.

[0108] In the reverse direction, the black body radiators 58 and 59 generate incoherent black body radiation, which impinges on the semi-transparent mirror 57. The semi-transparent mirror 57 splits the waves received from the black body radiators 58 and 59 into their respective partial waves. These partial waves are pair-coherent, so that the partial waves generated by the wave emitted by the black body radiator 58 contain a phase difference of 0, while the partial waves generated by the wave emitted by the black body radiator 59 contain a phase difference of π. The quantum devices 55 and 56 destroy the phase coherence of the partial waves, in particular eliminate the π phase difference between the partial waves generated by the emission of the black body radiator 59. The quantum devices 55 and 56 affect the collapse of the wave function, which means that due to quantum mechanics, the arriving wave either passes through the quantum device 55 or the quantum device 56. Therefore, the wave impinges on the atom 52 from the right or the left. If the wave is not absorbed by the atom 52, it impinges on the beam splitter 57, which deflects it to the black body radiators 58 and 59 in equal proportions on a statistical average.

[0109] The first and second black body radiators 58 and 59 are initially at the same temperature and emit the same radiation power, but receive radiation of different powers. Therefore, a temperature difference is generated between the first and second black body radiators 58 and 59, which can be used, for example, to generate electricity.

[0110] It should also be mentioned that the above quantum devices and their applications need to be coupled with a thermal environment (heat baths) with T>0K. In a simple case, the thermal environment can be provided by black bodies 58 and 59 and the black bodies in quantum devices 55 and 56. The medium of the thermal environment can be solid, liquid or gas. The device can extract energy from one or more thermal environments and transfer heat energy to one or more other thermal environments.

[0111] It is also apparent that the above devices can be implemented to operate in parallel to enhance their output. Likewise, the devices can be operated in series. For example, a second device can be thermally connected to the black body A1 of the first device that is cooled by the first device, so that the black body A2 of the second device is cooled to a lower temperature than the black body A1 of the first device.

[0112] Quantum devices 55 and 56 can be based on Figure 1 , Figure 3 or one of the embodiments shown in FIG. 10. As described above, quantum devices 55 and 56 can also be implemented by an inelastic scatterer that scatters with probability p. If arranged in the above manner, the operation of the device can be achieved because the phase information of the coherent waves that migrate from the black body 59 to the atom 52 and back to the black body 59 (these waves heat the black body 59 and are therefore harmful to the operation of the device) is reduced by (1-p)×(1-p) times, while the coherent waves generated by the atom 52 and moved to the black body 58 are only reduced by p times. In addition, this embodiment can act on the complete spectrum of the black body radiator at the same time.

[0113] Fig. 9 An example of using a quantum device in an electron interferometer is shown. Fig. 9 The electronic interferometer 60 includes an electron source 61, a first quantum device 62 and a second quantum device 63, a first resistor 64 and a second resistor 65, and the first and second resistors 64 and 65 are both grounded. The interferometer 60 also includes a first transmission path 66.1 connecting the electron source 61 and a first port of the first quantum device 62, a second transmission path 66.2 connecting the electron source 61 and a first port of the second quantum device 63, a third transmission path 66.3 connecting the second port of the first quantum device 62 and the first resistor 64, a fourth transmission path 66.4 connecting the second port of the second quantum device 63 and the first resistor 64, a fifth transmission path 66.5 connecting the second port of the second quantum device 63 and the second resistor 65, and a sixth transmission path 66.6 connecting the second port of the first quantum device 62 and the second resistor 65.

[0114] The first and second resistors 64 and 65 act as electron absorbers and emitters. In order to effectively absorb electrons, their resistance may be 50 ohms. For example, the generation of electrons occurs through thermal noise, i.e., Johnson / Nyquist noise, which is caused by thermal agitation of carriers within an electronic conductor in equilibrium.

[0115] The interferometer 60 is configured such that the electron wave experiences a phase shift of α on the third, fourth and fifth transmission paths 66.3, 66.4 and 66.5, and the electron wave experiences a phase shift of α+π on the sixth transmission path 66.6.

[0116] The above phase shift can be achieved by designing the transmission path with the following length.

[0117] The third transmission path 66.3 comprises a length L1,

[0118] The fourth transmission path 66.4 comprises a length L2,

[0119] The fifth transport path 66.5 comprises a length L3,

[0120] The sixth transport path 66.6 comprises a length L4.

[0121] If λ is the electron wavelength, then

[0122] L1-L2=n, and

[0123] L4-L3=m, where

[0124] n is an integer multiple of λ, and

[0125] m is an integer multiple of λ plus λ / 2.

[0126] The electron source 61 corresponds to Figure 7 In the embodiment of the invention, the atom 42 or Figure 8 Atom 52 in the embodiment of. For example, it can also be an atom that can absorb electrons and emit electrons. It can also be a crystal defect that can absorb or emit electrons. In the case of emitting electrons, two parts of the electron waves propagating on the first and second transmission paths 66.1 and 66.2 are emitted.

[0127] Quantum devices 62 and 63 may be identical and may be configured as inelastic scattering centers, such as crystal defects or phonons coupled into the crystal. For example, they may also be configured as low-loss electronic switches, such as FETs.

[0128] Transmission paths 66.1 to 66.6 correspond to Figure 8 The beam splitter 57 in the embodiment.

[0129] FIG10 shows an implementation of the use of a quantum device according to the present invention in a photonic system. The photonic system 70 comprises a set of a two-level system TLS 71, two blackbody radiators 72 and 73, and a chiral waveguide 74. The two-level system 71 is coupled to the chiral waveguide 74 with two different coupling strengths g1 and g2 depending on the propagation direction of the wave. Similar coupling is described in

[21] . In such a system, the two-level system TLS 71 induces a phase break in the photon mode in the waveguide 74, which depends on the propagation direction of the photons. This non-reciprocal phase break ultimately leads to different distributions of photons in the two blackbody cavities 72 and 73. Therefore, a temperature difference will be formed between the blackbody cavities 72 and 73. Similarly, this temperature difference can be converted into useful electrical energy by using a thermocouple device.

[0130] It should be noted that the quantum device as described in the present invention preferably transfers information in the forward direction and prevents information from flowing in the backward direction. This valuable functional behavior has obvious applications in data transmission and storage based on conventional systems or quantum systems. For example, it provides the possibility that a user of a quantum system writes data to a quantum memory but cannot retrieve data stored in the memory, and vice versa.

[0131] Another valuable aspect of the invention is that the process driven by quantum collapse can be easily controlled. For example, the process can be controlled by blocking part of the transmission path or by moving or rotating one or more optical elements. Therefore, the system can be equipped with input terminals for process control.

[0132] The present invention also relates to the following further aspects. These aspects refer to apparatuses in which the quantum device according to the first aspect can be implemented, such that the respective apparatus implements specific functions as will be outlined below.

[0133] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for achieving deviations from one or more of the zeroth, second or third laws of thermodynamics using coherent emission and at least partial collapse of a wave function.

[0134] The invention also relates to a device for achieving deviations from the zeroth, second or third law of thermodynamics using quantum mechanical superposition states and at least partial collapse of wave functions.

[0135] The device according to any of the above further aspects may be -6 It operates in the temperature range of K-4000K.

[0136] The device according to any of the above further aspects may not be coupled or entangled with the environment in the quantum system.

[0137] The invention also relates to a device for generating or enhancing the inhomogeneity of the energy distribution density of waves or particles in a system using coherent emission and at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of a wave function or a quantum mechanical superposition state and at least partial collapse of a wave function. The energy distribution may be an energy distribution generated at least in part by thermal energy.

[0138] The invention also relates to a device for bringing a system out of thermal equilibrium using coherent emission and at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of a wave function or a quantum mechanical superposition state and at least partial collapse of a wave function.

[0139] The invention also relates to a device for generating a temperature difference within an object or between a plurality of objects using coherent emission and at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of a wave function or a quantum mechanical superposition state and at least partial collapse of a wave function.

[0140] In an apparatus according to any further aspect above, the phase shift may be caused by at least one non-reciprocal component of the apparatus.

[0141] In an apparatus according to any of the above further aspects, at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of the wave function is achieved by using a macroscopic object, which may for example be a solid, liquid, gas or plasma.

[0142] In an apparatus according to any of the above further aspects, the at least partial quantum mechanical collapse and at least partial absorption of a wave function in an object is followed by a statistical re-emission of the wave by said object.

[0143] In an apparatus according to any of the above further aspects, at least part of the quantum mechanical collapse wave is replaced in a statistical sense by another wave having a random phase.

[0144] In a device according to any further aspect above, the device produces useful work by converting the generated radiation density inhomogeneity or the generated temperature difference into electricity, radiation, light energy or other form of energy, or by using the achieved sequence in some other way.

[0145] In a device according to any of the above further aspects, the device transfers mass, particles, energy, heat, momentum, angular momentum, charge or magnetic moment within an object or between multiple objects.

[0146] In a device according to any of the above further aspects, the device charges a storage system of energy, waves or matter, such as a capacitor or a battery.

[0147] In an apparatus according to any of the above further aspects, the apparatus heats or cools an object.

[0148] In an apparatus according to any of the above further aspects, one or more objects of the apparatus are operated at another reference temperature relative to the room temperature, for example by using an additionally provided heating or cooling function.

[0149] In an apparatus according to any further aspect above, an internally or externally generated signal is used to control the process.

[0150] The key factors leading to the apparent violation of the second law are: the generation of a particle state that splits into multiple wave packets, the quantum mechanical collapse of the multiple wave packet states, and the sorting of the single and multiple wave packet states by interference, where the latter step transforms the coherent properties of the wave packets into a useful output signal. These robust single-particle processes are scalable, they operate over a wide temperature range including high temperatures, are compatible with standard room environments, and can be implemented in a variety of devices acting on a variety of quantum waves, including electromagnetic waves, particle waves, and quasiparticle waves.

[0151] The device principle using coherent superposition states and wave function collapse, as demonstrated by the presented embodiments, enables a completely new class of hitherto unavailable functionalities and applications for optical and electronic devices and circuits. However, future applications may also include different applications than those described herein, namely quantum computing, quantum communication, cryptography, quantum information storage, energy generation and cooling. This principle will offer new possibilities, for example for analog and digital devices, data processing, storage and sensing. Quantum effects based on wave function collapse will also open up new possibilities for functional materials, for example in the field of catalysis.

[0152] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more embodiments, changes and / or modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the above-described components or structures (assemblies, devices, circuits, systems, etc.), unless otherwise specified, the terms used to describe such components (including references to "methods") are intended to correspond to any component or structure (e.g., functionally equivalent) that performs the specific function of the component, even if not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs the function in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention shown herein.

Claims

1. A quantum device (10), comprising: Non-reciprocal transport structures (5, 6, 7; 13, 14), where The non-reciprocal transmission structure is designed so that for a first wave passing through the non-reciprocal transmission structure in a forward direction, the phase of the first wave is conserved, and for a second wave passing through the non-reciprocal transmission structure in a backward direction, the phase of the second wave is at least partially replaced by a random phase generated by a black body having a temperature T; The quantum device (10) further comprises: A first port (1) and a second port (2); The non-reciprocal transmission structure (5, 6, 7) comprises at least two first transmission paths extending from the first port (1) to the second port (2) and at least two second transmission paths extending from the second port (2) to the first port (1); and The non-reciprocal transmission structure is further designed so that the first wave is decomposed into first sub-waves propagating on the first transmission path, and the first sub-waves at least partially interfere at the second port (2), and The second wave is decomposed into second partial waves, and the second partial waves at least partially interfere at the first port (1), part of the first partial waves completely interfere constructively at the second port (2), and part of the second partial waves completely interfere destructively at the first port (1); The third port (3); an absorber / emitter (8) disposed at the third port (3); and at least two third transmission paths extending from the second port (2) to the third port (3); After propagating along at least two third transmission paths, the second partial waves at least partially interfere constructively at the third port (3), so that they are at least partially absorbed by the absorber / transmitter (8), or at least partially replaced by waves with different phases; A four-port circulator comprising a first port (1) and a second port (2) and further comprising a third port (3) and one or more fourth ports (4); and At least one absorber / emitter (8, 9) is arranged on the third port (3) and the fourth port (4); The four-port circulator further comprises a first hybrid coupler and a second hybrid coupler (5, 6); and Phase shifter (7), wherein A first hybrid coupler (5) is coupled to the first port (1) and the third port (3), and a second hybrid coupler (6) is coupled to the second port (2) and the fourth port (4); The first hybrid coupler and the second hybrid coupler (5, 6) are connected to each other; and The phase shifter (7) is connected between the first hybrid coupler and the second hybrid coupler (5, 6).

2. The quantum device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The non-reciprocal transmission structure (13, 14) comprises at least two black bodies (13, 14) which can impose a phase change on the wave, wherein the effect of the black bodies (13, 14) is changed by moving or rotating the black bodies, or by changing the properties of the black bodies by mechanical, electrical, magnetic or optical means.

3. The quantum device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-reciprocal transmission structure comprises a chiral element, and the chiral element is a chiral waveguide.

4. The quantum device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that A non-reciprocal transmission structure is coupled to a two-level system, and the coupling strength depends on the transmission direction in the non-reciprocal transmission structure.

5. The quantum device according to claim 1, wherein At least part of the phase of the wave propagating between the ports is erased and replaced by a random phase by the action of non-phase-conserving scattering events.

6. A method of operating the quantum device according to any one of claims 1-5, the method comprising: Providing a first wave to the quantum device, wherein the first wave includes quanta having energy obtained from a heat source or having an energy E of the order of kT, such that kT / 10 < E < 10kT, where T is the ambient temperature.

7. A method of using the quantum device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The quantum device (10) operates in a temperature range of 10 -6 K - 4000 K.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that In the quantum system, the quantum device (10) is not coupled or entangled with the environment.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein The quantum device (10) utilizes at least partial quantum mechanical collapse of the coherent emission and the wave function or at least partial collapse of the quantum mechanical superposition state and the wave function to generate or enhance the inhomogeneity of the energy distribution density of waves or particles in the system.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The energy distribution is an energy distribution generated at least in part by thermal energy.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that At least partial quantum mechanical collapse of the wave function is achieved by using a macroscopic object, which includes a solid, a liquid, a gas, or a plasma.

12. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that After at least partial quantum mechanical collapse and at least partial absorption of the wave function on an object, the statistical re-emission of the wave by the object follows immediately.

13. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that At least partial quantum mechanically collapsed waves are statistically replaced by another wave with a random phase.

14. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The quantum device (10) generates useful work by converting the generated radiation density inhomogeneity or the generated temperature difference into electricity, radiation, or light energy.

15. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The quantum device (10) transfers mass, particles, energy, heat, momentum, angular momentum, charge, or magnetic moment inside an object or between multiple objects.

16. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The quantum device (10) heats or cools an object or a wave.

17. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that One or more bodies of the device operate at another reference temperature relative to room temperature by using an additionally provided heating or cooling function.

18. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that Internally or externally generated signals are used to control the operation of the device.

19. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The quantum device (10) further includes: a cavity (33), including a wall (33A) surrounding an interferometer (30), such that a plate (31) extending from the upper wall of the wall (33A) to the lower wall opposite the upper wall divides the interior of the cavity (33) into two parts.

20. The quantum device (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that The left half of the wall (33A) of the cavity (33) is reflective, and the right half of the wall (33A) of the cavity (33) is black.

21. The quantum device (10) according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that The wall (33A) is in thermal equilibrium with the external environment.

22. The method of claim 7, wherein: The quantum device (10) further includes: a cavity (43), including a wall (43A) surrounding an interferometer (40).

23. The quantum device (10) according to claim 22, characterized in that The wall (43A) is in thermal equilibrium with the external environment.

24. The method of claim 7, wherein: The quantum device (10) includes: An electron interferometer (60), the electron interferometer including: An electron source (61); A first quantum device (62) and a second quantum device (63); A first resistor (64) and a second resistor (65); and A first transmission path (66.1) connecting the electron source (61) to the first port of the first quantum device (62); a second transmission path (66.2) connecting the electron source (61) and the first port of the second quantum device (63); a third transmission path (66.3) connecting the second port of the first quantum device (62) and the first resistor (64); a fourth transmission path (66.4) connecting the second port of the second quantum device (63) and the first resistor (64); a fifth transmission path (66.5) connecting the second port of the second quantum device (63) and the second resistor (65); and a sixth transmission path (66.6) connecting the second quantum device (63) and the first resistor (64); The electron wave experiences a phase shift of α on the third transmission path (66.3), the fourth transmission path (66.4), and the fifth transmission path (66.5), and the electron wave experiences a phase shift of α+π on the sixth transmission path (66.6).

25. The quantum device (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that The third transmission path (66.3) comprises a length L1, The fourth transmission path (66.4) comprises a length L2, The fifth transmission path (66.5) comprises a length L3, The sixth transmission path (66.6) comprises a length L4, and λ is the electron wavelength, in L1 - L2 = n, and L4 - L3 = m, where n is an integer multiple of λ, and m is an integer multiple of λ plus λ / 2.

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