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Peer-reviewedCC BYSciPost Physics Lecture Notes

Quantum thermodynamics

  • Patrick P. Potts1
  1. 1University of Basel
Open at sourceDOICite

Abstract

The theory of quantum thermodynamics investigates how the concepts of heat, work, and temperature can be carried over to the quantum realm, where fluctuations and randomness are fundamentally unavoidable. These lecture notes provide an introduction to the thermodynamics of small quantum systems. It is illustrated how the laws of thermodynamics emerge from quantum theory and how open quantum systems can be modeled by Markovian master equations. Quantum systems that are designed to perform a certain task, such as cooling or generating entanglement are considered. Finally, the effect of fluctuations on the thermodynamic description is discussed.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{potts2026quantum,
  title = {{Quantum thermodynamics}},
  author = {Patrick P. Potts},
  journal = {SciPost Physics Lecture Notes},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.21468/scipostphyslectnotes.126},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphyslectnotes.126},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Quantum thermodynamics
AU  - Patrick P. Potts
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/04
JO  - SciPost Physics Lecture Notes
DO  - 10.21468/scipostphyslectnotes.126
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21468/scipostphyslectnotes.126
AB  - The theory of quantum thermodynamics investigates how the concepts of heat, work, and temperature can be carried over to the quantum realm, where fluctuations and randomness are fundamentally unavoidable. These lecture notes provide an introduction to the thermodynamics of small quantum systems. It is illustrated how the laws of thermodynamics emerge from quantum theory and how open quantum systems can be modeled by Markovian master equations. Quantum systems that are designed to perform a certain task, such as cooling or generating entanglement are considered. Finally, the effect of fluctuations on the thermodynamic description is discussed.
SN  - 2590-1990
ER  -