QFE-1: A Falsifiable Null-Test Framework for Single-Reservoir Quantum Work Extraction

QFE-1 is a falsifiable quantum-thermodynamics research proposal for testing whether an explicit quantum battery can gain useful non-equilibrium free energy from a single equilibrium thermal reservoir while every declared auxiliary resource, including control, memory, coherence, timing and correlations — is returned to its reference condition and externally supplied work is independently metered. Version 2.0 adds a formal weak-coupling free-energy bound, a quantitative superconducting-circuit reference regime, a thermal master-equation baseline, an analytical null calculation showing energy gain without work gain, explicit false-positive controls, strong-coupling safeguards, a staged experimental programme, and pre-registered falsification criteria. No experimental violation of thermodynamics or discovery of perpetual motion is claimed.