When considering small systems, quantum fluctuations, in addition to thermal ones, come into play. Furthermore there is a wide range of phenomena without classical counterpart that cannot be neglected, such as coherence, squeezing or entanglement, in both single and many-body systems. One of the purposes of Quantum Thermodynamics is extending both equilibrium an non-equilibrium thermodynamic notions beyond the classical regime. In this seminar I will focus in two promising routes to the understanding of thermodynamics in quantum systems: small thermal machines and non-equilibrium fluctuation relations. The first one explores questions about the minimum size of heat engines, the possible limitations arising on their performance and the nature of work in self-contained quantum settings. The second one establishes exact statements about the fluctuations of thermodynamical quantities in systems arbitrarily far from equilibrium.
Coffee and cookies will be served 15 minutes before the start of the seminar
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