Basel Researchers Develop Framework for Quantum Light Engines

A team at the University of Basel has proposed a new theoretical framework that reconciles quantum physics with thermodynamics for microscopic engines powered by light. The model focuses on a device composed of a single atom interacting with photons, a system so small that traditional definitions of heat and work become ambiguous. By clarifying how energy can be extracted from such a quantum system, the framework addresses the long‑standing question of what counts as usable heat at the nanoscale. The work suggests that even energy considered “waste heat” in larger machines may be harnessed for useful work when engineered at the quantum level.