How monitoring a quantum Otto engine affects its performance

Heat engines are devices that use waste heat to perform mechanical work and generate power. The invention of heat engines ushered in an era of the industrial revolution 250 years ago. The Otto engine, which uses distinct heat and work strokes, powers nearly all automobiles and is an industry standard due to its relatively high power and efficiency. In an Otto engine, a working substance is typically a gas confined to a piston, which undergoes four subsequent strokes: It is first compressed, then heated up, expanded, and finally cooled down to its initial temperature.