A theoretical study by researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing shows how an inventive device called a “topological quantum battery,” which makes use of the topological characteristics of photonic waveguides and the quantum effects of two-level atoms, could be effectively designed. Applications in distributed quantum computing, optical quantum communication, and nanoscale energy storage are possible thanks to the study, which was published in Physical Review Letters.
Creating next-generation energy storage devices has become a top issue as environmental sustainability gains more attention worldwide. The storage and transfer of energy might be improved by quantum batteries, which are hypothetical tiny devices that rely on quantum features like superposition, entanglement, and coherence rather than classical batteries that store energy through chemical processes.
Mechanistically speaking, they may perform better than traditional batteries in terms of enhanced work extraction efficiency, more capacity, and better charging power.
Despite several ideas for quantum batteries, the actual implementation of such systems remains difficult. In practical scenarios involving remote charging and energy dissipation, quantum batteries are significantly impacted by energy loss and decoherence, a common problem in quantum devices in which a quantum system loses key properties such as entanglement and superposition, resulting in suboptimal performance.
In terms of energy loss, photonic systems that employ non-topological waveguides, waveguides that may be bent, for example, to channel photons have much worse energy storage efficiency due to photon dispersion inside the waveguides. Other difficulties include ambient dissipation, noise, and disorder, all of which cause decoherence and reduce battery performance.
In the current study, the joint research team used analytical and numerical approaches within a theoretical framework to address two long-standing issues that have hampered quantum batteries' practical performance.
They proved the feasibility of obtaining flawless long-distance charging and dissipation immunity in quantum batteries by utilizing topological properties - material traits that remain intact during continuous deformations such as twisting or bending. Surprisingly, they discovered that dissipation, which is normally thought to be detrimental to battery performance, may be exploited to temporarily increase the charging capability of quantum batteries.
They demonstrated several key advantages that could support the practical use of topological quantum batteries. One notable finding was the use of topological features in photonic waveguides to achieve near-perfect energy transmission.
Another noteworthy discovery is that the system demonstrates dissipation immunity limited to a single sublattice when the charger and batteries are positioned at the same location. The study team also found that, contrary to the widely held belief that dissipation usually impairs performance, the charging power experiences a brief improvement once dissipation is above a key threshold.
Our research provides new insights from a topological perspective and gives us hints toward the realization of high-performance micro-energy storage devices. By overcoming the practical performance limitations of quantum batteries caused by long-distance energy transmission and dissipation, we hope to accelerate the transition from theory to practical application of quantum batteries.
Zhi-Guang Lu, Study First Author, RIKEN
“Looking ahead, we will continue working to bridge the gap between theoretical study and the practical deployment of quantum devices—ushering in the quantum era we have long envisioned,” added Cheng Shang, Corresponding Author, International Research Team.
Journal Reference:
Lu, Z.-G., et al. (2025) Topological Quantum Batteries. Physical Review Letters. doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.180401