Quantum refrigeration powered by noise in a superconducting circuit

Journal article, 2026

While dephasing noise often hinders quantum devices, it can become an asset for quantum thermal machines. Here we demonstrate a three-level thermal machine that leverages noise-assisted quantum transport to enable steady-state cooling of microwave modes. The device exploits symmetry-selective couplings between a superconducting artificial molecule and two physical heat baths. Each bath consists of a microwave waveguide populated with synthesized quasithermal radiation. Energy transport is enabled by injecting dephasing noise through a third channel longitudinally coupled to one artificial atom of the molecule. By varying the effective temperatures of the reservoirs and measuring photonic heat currents with sub-attowatt resolution, we demonstrate energy flow dynamics characteristic of a quantum heat engine, thermal accelerator, and refrigerator. Our work constitutes an experimental demonstration of the key operating principles of a noise-assisted three-level quantum refrigerator and opens new avenues for experiments in quantum thermodynamics using superconducting circuits coupled to physical heat baths.