Quantum gears from planar rotors

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of interacting quantum planar rotors as the building blocks of gear trains and nano-machinery operating in the quantum regime. Contrary to a classical hard-gear scenario of rigidly interlocked teeth, we consider the coherent contact-less coupling through a finite interlocking potential and study the transmission of motion from one externally driven gear to the next as a function of the coupling parameters and gear profile. The transmission is assessed in terms of transferred angular momentum and transferred mechanical work. We highlight the quantum features of the model such as quantum state revivals in the interlocked rotation and interference-enhanced transmission, which could be observed in prospective rotational optomechanics experiments.