In the realm of quantum technologies, a team of researchers from the University of Calcutta, the University of Warsaw, and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have been exploring the potential of quantum batteries. These microscopic devices are designed to meet the energy demands of quantum technologies, promising high power during charging and discharging processes. However, their practical usefulness hinges on reliability, which is quantified by the noise-to-signal ratios (NSRs) of work and power. The researchers have established fundamental limits to this reliability, revealing a trade-off that could impact the design and efficiency of quantum batteries.
The researchers, Brij Mohan, Tanmoy Pandit, Maciej Lewenstein, and Manabendra Nath Bera, have found that both work and power NSRs are universally bounded from below by a function of charging speed. This means that as the charging speed increases, the reliability of the quantum battery decreases. More strikingly, they discovered that a quantum mechanical uncertainty relation forbids the simultaneous suppression of work and power fluctuations. This fundamental trade-off limits the reliability of quantum batteries, as improving one aspect can negatively impact the other.
The team analyzed this trade-off and its limits across different charging schemes for many-body quantum batteries. They found that increasing power by exploiting stronger entanglement comes at the cost of diminished reliability of power. Similar trends were observed in the charging of quantum batteries utilizing transverse Ising-like interactions. Their analysis suggests that achieving both high power and reliability requires neither parallel nor collective charging, but a hybrid charging scheme with an intermediate range of interactions.
The researchers’ findings, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, shape the practical and efficient design of reliable and high-performance quantum batteries. While quantum batteries are not yet a reality in the energy industry, this research provides valuable insights into the fundamental limitations and trade-offs that will need to be considered as quantum technologies advance. For now, the energy industry can continue to focus on more established technologies, but keep an eye on the progress of quantum technologies and their potential applications.
In the meantime, the energy industry can look to other advancements in battery technology, such as solid-state batteries and flow batteries, which are closer to commercialization and could have a significant impact on energy storage and grid stability. However, the research on quantum batteries serves as a reminder that the energy industry must remain open to new and innovative technologies that could revolutionize the way we store and use energy.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.