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A contactless heat engine driven by nonreciprocal fluctuation-induced torques

Dhruv Shah, Kiryl Asheichyk, David Gelbwaser-Klimovsky, Noah Graham, Mehran Kardar, Matthias Krüger
September 9, 2026
Published Date

Research Abstract & Technology Focus

We describe a contactless heat engine in which quantum and thermal electromagnetic fluctuations act as the working medium. The setup consists of two concentric cylinders held at different temperatures. The inner cylinder stably levitates within the outer one due to repulsive nonequilibrium Casimir forces. The chirality of the setup is broken by using nonreciprocal dielectric materials, akin to application of a magnetic field along the common cylinder axis. Using Rytov fluctuational electrodynamics, we show that heat transfer and torque can be expressed in terms of an angular-momentum-resolved heat flux density, Φn(ω): each exchanged photon carries energy ℏω and angular momentum ℏn. In reciprocal media, contributions from modes n and -n cancel and there is no net torque; nonreciprocity breaks this symmetry and powers rotation of the inner cylinder. Even in the absence of contact, electromagnetic fluctuations produce a frictional torque opposing rotation that we compute. This enables computation of characteristic steady state rotations, and estimation of the engine efficiency (which remains bounded by the Carnot limit). The cylindrical setup provides a natural realization of fluctuation-induced angular-momentum transfer and a possible route toward nanoscale contactless engines.
Physics Carnot cycle Heat engine Cylinder Rotation (mathematics) Torque
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What is the core focus of the research titled 'A contactless heat engine driven by nonreciprocal fluctuation-induced torques'?

This literature focuses on: We describe a contactless heat engine in which quantum and thermal electromagnetic fluctuations act as the working medium. The setup consists of two concentric cylinders held at different temperatures. The inner cylinder stably levitates within th...

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What other academic literature is closely related to 'A contactless heat engine driven by nonreciprocal fluctuation-induced torques'?

Yes, highly correlated activity was mapped. An entry titled 'Beyond Whittle: Electromagnetic Field Governance as a Replacement Architecture for Aviation Turbine Combustion' discusses this: Beyond Whittle: Electromagnetic Field Governance as a Replacement Architecture for Aviation Turbine CombustionWayne Griffiths — Founder and Preside...

Are there commercial applications of 'A contactless heat engine driven by nonreciprocal fluctuation-induced torques' in market news publications?

Yes, highly correlated activity was mapped. An entry titled 'Heat Engine' discusses this: Fundamental research has demonstrated a cyclic quantum heat engine based on dissipation-engineered superconducting circuits, marking a significant ...

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