Quantum thermalisation control

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Jens Eisert; Professor Dr. Gershon Kurizki
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 384846402

Equilibration and thermalisation of quantum many-body systems and their controllability are long-standing unresolved issues of theoretical physics. First exciting experiments exploring these issues have become available in the last few years. This state of affairs will be the starting point for achieving quantum thermalisation control in the context of quantum thermodynamics.We shall explore the rapport of equilibration and thermalisation with the unitarity of quantum evolution, so as to establish comprehensive answers to the questions: When and in what precise sense do subsystems of quantum system-bath complexes thermally equilibrate (Objectives a, b, c)? Can such equilibration be prevented or, conversely, sped up by suitable control (Objective c)? Are longe-range interactions compatible with thermalisation, extensivity and normal heat flow (Objective d)?

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2724: Thermal machines in the quantum world
• International Connection: Austria, Israel
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jörg Schmiedmayer