A New View of Thermodynamics
December 21, 2017 | ICFOEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Thermodynamics is one of the most successful physical theories ever formulated. Though it was initially developed to study steam engines and, in particular, the problem of conversion of heat into mechanical work, it has survived even after the scientific revolutions of relativity and quantum mechanics.
Despite being considered very robust and applicable to a wide range of scenarios, the laws of thermodynamics have been postulated assuming that the system is initially uncorrelated from its surrounding bath. Thus, the laws are known to break down when systems are in fact correlated in some way with their environments.
In a recent paper published in Nature Communications, ICFO researchers Dr. Manabendra N. Bera, Dr. Arnau Riera, led by ICREA Prof. at ICFO Maciej Lewenstein, in collaboration with Dr. Andreas Winter from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, present a study in which they extend thermodynamics to be also valid in these correlated scenarios. To do so, they propose a consistent redefinition of heat (and work) and introduce it by properly taking into accout the information flow from system to bath in terms of the conditional entropy.
In their study, the researchers generalize thermodynamics to physical scenarios that allow the presence of correlations, including those where strong correlations do occur. They exploit the connection between information and physics, and introduce a consistent redefinition of heat dissipation by systematically accounting for the information flow from system to bath in terms of the conditional entropy.
In summary, the work poses a solution to the apparent violations of thermodynamics in correlated scenarios and generalizes such approach by reformulating its zeroth, first, and second laws.
Suggested Items
Boeing T-7A Red Hawk Triples Progress
05/01/2024 | BoeingThe Boeing T-7A Red Hawk achieved three recent milestones, propelling the advanced pilot trainer for the U.S. Air Force forward.
Merlin Flex invests in New Schmoll Direct Imaging System
04/30/2024 | Merlin Flex LtdMerlin Flex has fully installed and commissioned its 2nd Schmoll MDI Direct Imaging system. This new machine includes a twin bed, 4 head system which enhances Merlin Flex’s direct imaging capability for its 1.4M long flexible circuits.
Latest Test and Inspection Solutions from GOEPEL electronic at SMTconnect 2024
04/29/2024 | GOEPEL electronicGOEPEL electronic will be demonstrating automated test and inspection equipment at SMTconnect, taking place in Nuremberg from June 11 to 13, 2024.
TSMC Celebrates 30th North America Technology Symposium
04/29/2024 | TSMCTSMC unveiled its newest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies for powering the next generation of AI innovations with silicon leadership at the Company’s 2024 North America Technology Symposium.
QinetiQ Achieves UK’s First Jet-to-Jet Teaming Between Aircraft and Autonomous Drone
04/29/2024 | QinetiQQinetiQ has successfully trialled the UK’s first Crewed-Uncrewed-Teaming demonstration between a crewed aircraft and an autonomous jet drone.