Roles of quantum coherences in thermal machines

Abstract

Some of the oldest and most important applications of thermodynamics are operations of refrigeration as well as production of useful energy. Part of the efforts to understand and develop thermodynamics in the quantum regime have been focusing on harnessing quantum effects to such operations. In this review, we present the recent developments regarding the role of quantum coherences in the performances of thermal machines-the devices realising the above thermodynamic operations. While this is known to be an intricate subject, in part because being largely model-dependent, the review of the recent results allows us to identify some general tendencies and to suggest some future directions.