--- res: bibo_abstract: - There has been significant interest recently in using complex quantum systems to create effective nonreciprocal dynamics. Proposals have been put forward for the realization of artificial magnetic fields for photons and phonons; experimental progress is fast making these proposals a reality. Much work has concentrated on the use of such systems for controlling the flow of signals, e.g., to create isolators or directional amplifiers for optical signals. In this Letter, we build on this work but move in a different direction. We develop the theory of and discuss a potential realization for the controllable flow of thermal noise in quantum systems. We demonstrate theoretically that the unidirectional flow of thermal noise is possible within quantum cascaded systems. Viewing an optomechanical platform as a cascaded system we show here that one can ultimately control the direction of the flow of thermal noise. By appropriately engineering the mechanical resonator, which acts as an artificial reservoir, the flow of thermal noise can be constrained to a desired direction, yielding a thermal rectifier. The proposed quantum thermal noise rectifier could potentially be used to develop devices such as a thermal modulator, a thermal router, and a thermal amplifier for nanoelectronic devices and superconducting circuits.@eng bibo_authorlist: - foaf_Person: foaf_givenName: Shabir foaf_name: Barzanjeh, Shabir foaf_surname: Barzanjeh foaf_workInfoHomepage: http://www.librecat.org/personId=2D25E1F6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 orcid: 0000-0003-0415-1423 - foaf_Person: foaf_givenName: Matteo foaf_name: Aquilina, Matteo foaf_surname: Aquilina - foaf_Person: foaf_givenName: André foaf_name: Xuereb, André foaf_surname: Xuereb bibo_doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.060601 bibo_issue: '6' bibo_volume: 120 dct_date: 2018^xs_gYear dct_identifier: - UT:000424382100004 dct_language: eng dct_publisher: American Physical Society@ dct_title: Manipulating the flow of thermal noise in quantum devices@ ...