Extreme Temperature Single Particle Heat Engine

A single particle heat engine is produced using a 5 micrometer silica sphere levitated using a Paul Trap at pressure of 2.3e-3 mbar. Modulation of the trap frequency and exposure to a white noise electric field modulates the effective volume and center of mass temperature of the particle respectively, allowing for the running of a Stirling engine cycle. Data taken using an Event Based Camera allows for the particle position to be recorded as the engine cycle is run, and from the positional data, the state variables of heat, work, efficiency and power, are calculated. Taking repeated engine cycle data allows for statistics of the particle motion and state variables to be obtained, and compared to a theoretical model. The theoretical model shows how the particle behavior is explained by an effective position dependent temperature experienced by the particle, that results from the interaction between the trapping field, the white noise bath, and the particle.