Abstract

I will give an introductory talk on quantum thermodynamics [1] covering a selection of my group’s results in recent years.

We will first ask what is “quantum” in quantum thermodynamics. To answer this question we set up a quantum thermodynamic process that removes quantum information in analogy to Landauer’s erasure of classical information. The thermodynamic analysis of such a process uncovers that work can be extracted from quantum coherences in addition to the work that can be extracted from classical non-equilibrium states [2].

In the later part of the talk, I will report on a new thermodynamic uncertainty relation that limits the accuracy of measuring the temperature and energy of a thermal quantum system [3]. Corrections to the standard uncertainty relation arise here because, unlike in standard thermodynamics, a small system’s interaction with its environment is not negligible. The emerging relation unites thermodynamic and quantum uncertainties for the first time.

[1] Quantum thermodynamics, S. Vinjanampathy, J. Anders, Cont. Phys. 57, 545 (2016).

[2] Coherence and measurement in quantum thermodynamics, P. Kammerlander, J. Anders, Sci. Rep. 6, 22174 (2016).

[3] Energy-temperature uncertainty relation in quantum thermodynamics, H. Miller, J. Anders, Nat. Comm. 9, 2203 (2018).

Most recent:

[4] Weak and ultrastrong coupling limits of the quantum mean force Gibbs state, J. Cresser, J. Anders, arxiv 2104.12606 (2021).