We investigate the maximal amount of quantum work in a driven atom as a quantum battery which is coupled to a massless scalar field in a Minkowski vacuum. The relativistic thermodynamics of the quantum battery is explored from the prospective of quantum channels. It is found that quantum work extraction can be enhanced in the battery whose trajectory is characterized by a combination of a linear accelerated motion and a component of the four velocity. In the nonrelativistic case, the accelerated motion results in the attenuation of energy extraction, while the velocity component can prevent the degradation of quantum work to a certain extent. The work extraction can increase in the relativistic regime. Moreover, for ultrarelativistic velocities, the relativistic thermodynamics of the quantum battery can behave as if it were a closed system owing to the relativity correction associated with the velocity. The extractable work can be shielded from the impacts of vacuum fluctuations and relativistic motion. It is demonstrated that the work extraction relies on quantum coherence of the relativistic battery and nonclassical nature in the Minkowski vacuum.

• Received 30 August 2022
• Revised 2 November 2022
• Accepted 23 December 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.107.012207