Reporters learned from the University of Science and Technology of China on the 3rd that Du Jiangfeng, Rongxing and others from the Key Laboratory of Micro Magnetic Resonance of the Chinese Academy of Sciences of the university carried out systematic experimental research on the maximum extractable work in the quantum system based on the solid state single spin quantum system. Experiments have shown that by enhancing the coherence of quantum systems, the maximum extractable work in quantum states can be effectively increased. This achievement was recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters. In thermodynamic research, understanding how much work a system can extract is of fundamental and important significance. In response to this issue, theoretical researchers have proposed the physical quantity of the maximum extractable work of quantum systems under cyclic unitary evolution, and recently pointed out the important role of quantum coherence in the maximum extractable work. However, there is still a lack of experimental verification and demonstration of the relationship between these two important physical quantities, mainly due to the considerable challenge of effectively measuring the maximum extractable work. In this study, researchers developed a method for measuring the maximum extractable work using auxiliary bits to avoid the use of complex quantum state tomography techniques. Based on the diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) color center system, efficient and accurate measurement of the maximum extractable work was demonstrated, successfully separating coherent and incoherent parts. The experiment detected the coherent maximum extractable work of a series of quantum states, indicating that the coherent maximum extractable work increases with the increase of quantum coherence. The researchers stated that this research not only demonstrates the role of quantum coherence in the process of work extraction, but also reveals the profound connection between quantum information theory and quantum thermodynamics, laying the foundation for further research on the role of quantum system characteristics in thermodynamic models in the future. In addition, the research results also provide theoretical and experimental basis for the optimization and development of future quantum devices, especially in improving the power capacity of quantum devices, which is of great significance. (New Society)