ICTP-SISSA Online Colloquium July 15

ICTP is pleased to welcome all to the Joint ICTP-SISSA Webinar Colloquium by Prof. Chris Jarzynski, from the University of Maryland, on "Scaling Down the Laws of Thermodynamics" on Wednesday, 15 July at 16:00 CET. 

The event is free and open to all, held on Zoom (pre-register to obtain joining information here) and live-streamed on Youtube. A question and answer session will follow Dr. Jarzynski’s talk. 

Jarzynski works at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he is a Distinguished University Professor with appointments in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Institute for Physical Science and Technology, and the Department of Physics. His interests include theoretical and computational work at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology, with a particular focus on nonequilibrium phenomena and the application of thermodynamic principles to microscopic systems. His recent research focus includes quantum control and thermodynamics, the thermodynamic arrow of time, and the physical implications of information processing.

Abstract: Thermodynamics provides a robust conceptual framework and set of laws that govern the exchange of energy and matter. Although these laws were originally articulated for macroscopic objects, nanoscale systems also exhibit “thermodynamic¬-like” behavior – for instance, biomolecular motors convert chemical fuel into mechanical work, and single molecules exhibit hysteresis when manipulated using optical tweezers. To what extent can the laws of thermodynamics be scaled down to apply to individual microscopic systems, and what new features emerge at the nanoscale? I will describe some of the challenges and recent progress – both theoretical and experimental – associated with addressing these questions. Along the way, my talk will touch on non-equilibrium fluctuations, “violations” of the second law, the thermodynamic arrow of time, nanoscale feedback control, strong system-environment coupling, and quantum thermodynamics.