[quantum-info] Q+ hangout: Jonathan Oppenheim, April 24 (tomorrow!) @ 9am, RAC1 2108

[Marco]

Q+ hangout: Jonathan Oppenheim, April 24 (tomorrow!) @ 9am, RAC1 2108

IQC, RAC1 2108 (second floor kitchen)
Tuesday, April 24
9:00am

Jonathan Oppenheim, University College London

Title: Fundamental limitations for quantum and nano thermodynamics

Abstract: The relationship between thermodynamics and statistical  
physics is valid in the thermodynamic limit -- when the number of  
particles involved becomes very large. Here we study thermodynamics in  
the opposite regime -- at both the nano scale, and when quantum  
effects become important. Applying results from quantum information  
theory we construct a theory of thermodynamics in these extreme  
limits. In the quantum regime, we find that the standard free energy  
no longer determines the amount of work which can be extracted from a  
resource, nor which state transitions can occur spontaneously. We  
derive a criteria for thermodynamical state transitions, and find two  
free energies: one which determines the amount of work which can be  
extracted from a small system in contact with a heat bath, and the  
other which quantifies the reverse process. They imply that  
generically, there are additional constraints which govern spontaneous  
thermodynamical processes. We find that there are fundamental  
limitations on work extraction from nonequilibrium states, due to both  
finite size effects which are present at the nano scale, as well as  
quantum coherences. This implies that thermodynamical transitions are  
generically irreversible at this scale, and we quantify the degree to  
which this is so, and the condition for reversibility to hold. There  
are particular equilibrium processes which approach the ideal  
efficiency, provided that certain special conditions are met. Based on http://arxiv.org/abs/1111.3834

For more information about Q+ hangouts, http://qplus.burgarth.de/

PS All meeting rooms in RAC1 were booked: in case I can find a better  
option than RAC1 2108, I will let you know/post a note
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