A photon-assisted single-spin quantum-dot heat engine

•The photon-assisted work regions for the heat engine are found.•A photon-assisted single-spin heat engine is achieved when an external magnetic field is presented.•The heat engine can be used to produce the single-spin current.

We propose a time-dependent heat engine based on a single quantum dot (QD) sandwiched between two metallic electrodes. An external time-dependent field is applied on the single QD, which induces the periodic oscillation of energy levels inside the QD. Thus, the multiple transport channels are opened, resulting in the occurrence of the photon-assisted work regions for the heat engine. When an external magnetic field is presented, a photon-assisted single-spin heat engine is achieved. In some energy regions, the heat engine can be used to produce the single-spin current. Our results presented here indicate a way to fabricate the photon-assisted QD thermospin devices.