On March 3, the University of Science and Technology of China announced that its CAS Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance team led by Professors Du Jiangfeng and Rong Xing conducted systematic experimental research on maximum extractable work in quantum systems based on solid-state single-spin quantum systems. The experiments demonstrated that enhancing coherence can effectively increase the maximum amount of extractable work within a quantum state, findings published recently in Physical Review Letters.

In thermodynamic studies, understanding how much work can be extracted from a system is fundamental and significant. Researchers have proposed the concept of maximal extractable work under cyclic unitary evolution for quantum systems and highlighted the importance of quantum coherence to this quantity; however, experimental verification has been lacking due to challenges associated with measuring maximum extractable work.

In their study, researchers developed methods using auxiliary bits instead of complex state tomography techniques to measure maximum extractable work efficiently in diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. They successfully separated coherent and non-coherent components by testing a series of quantum states' maximal coherently extractable work, finding that this quantity increases with the enhancement of quantum coherence.

The researchers stated their findings not only demonstrate the role of quantum coherence during energy extraction but also reveal profound connections between quantum information theory and thermodynamics. These results lay groundwork for future studies on how characteristics of quantum systems affect thermal models. Additionally, these outcomes provide theoretical and experimental foundations for optimizing and developing quantum devices in particular enhancing work capacity (Reporter: Wu Changfeng).