← Back to papers
An autonomous feedback protocol: responding to temperature and potential changes in energy converters
Krishna Lyn Delima, Elsa Danielsson, Bruno Bertin-Johannet, Janine Splettstoesser·August 21, 2026
Mesoscale PhysicsQuantum Physics
AI Breakdown
Get a structured breakdown of this paper — what it's about, the core idea, and key takeaways for the field.
Abstract
Nanoscale thermoelectric devices convert tiny amounts of heat into power. But what happens if the external conditions and resulting temperature differences are not a priori known? We propose a feedback mechanism that optimizes the performance of a quantum-point-contact-based heat engine (QPC). A quantum-dot detector measures the external conditions and gives autonomous feedback on the QPC's properties. We expect this feedback mechanism to be experimentally relevant for steady-state engines with unknown external conditions and for adapting dynamic charging processes to the potential buildup.