Quantum Thermodynamics

Quantum thermodynamics is the study of the relations between two independent physical theories: thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. The two independent theories address the physical phenomena of light and matter. It is now possible to manipulate single atoms and ions to enable the construction of heat engines and refrigerators whose cores are comprised of a single particle. Surprisingly, these microscopic quantum heat machines have been found to obey classical thermodynamical results, which is puzzling. It is expected that quantum effects would modify classical thermodynamics results on the atomic scale. Hence, some of the key outstanding questions in the eld of quantum thermodynamic are: What is quantum about quantum heat machines? We study the relations between the laws of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.