Autonomous quantum heat engine enabled by molecular optomechanics and hysteresis switching

By integrating molecular optomechanics with molecular switches, we propose a scheme for a molecular quantum heat engine. If the molecular switch is effectively classical, the engine operates autonomously through hysteretic feedback, without external driving or modulation. However, this description needs to be revisited and modified in the case of a fully quantum molecular switch. Through a comparative analysis conducted within both semiclassical and fully quantum frameworks, we reveal the central role of quantum tunneling and quantum correlations in the operation of this advanced molecular machine in that regime.