Colloquia

Quantum thermodynamics has emerged as an interdisciplinary research field in quantum science and technology with widespread applications. Yet, the identification of scenarios characterized by quantum supremacy -a performance without match in the classical world- remains challenging. In this talk I shall review recent advances in the engineering and optimization of quantum thermal machines. I will show that nonadiabatic many-particle effects can give rise to quantum supremacy in finite-time thermodynamics [1]. Tailoring such nonadiabatic effects by making use of shortcuts to adiabaticity, quantum heat engines can be operated at maximum efficiency and arbitrarily high output power [2]. A thermodynamic cost of these shortcuts will be elucidated by analyzing the full work distribution function and introducing a novel kind of work-energy uncertainty relation [3]. I shall close by discussing the identification of scenarios with a quantum-enhanced performance in thermal machines run over many cycles [4]. 

Bibliography: 
[1] J. Jaramillo, M. Beau, A. del Campo, New J. Phys. 18, 075019 (2016). 
[2] M. Beau, J. Jaramillo, A. del Campo, Entropy 18, 168 (2016). 
[3] K. Funo, J.-N. Zhang, C. Chatou, K. Kim, M. Ueda and A. del Campo, Phys. Rev. Lett, 118, 100602 (2017).
[4] G. Watanabe, B. P. Venkatesh, P. Talkner and A. del Campo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 050601 (2017).