Stochastic thermodynamics
We explore broad fundamental questions in stochastic thermodynamics with the creation of a universal experimental platform based on mechanical oscillators operating in non-linear potentials at the thermal fluctuation scale. We will address problems of classical nature such as microscopic heat engines, historical paradoxes related to Maxwell's like demons and their link to information theory, as well as modern applications to information processing devices. Using oscillators with non-negligible inertia will unlock major features of this exploration, through non-isothermal transformations, tunable heat capacities, tunable coupling of several degrees of freedom, and the ability to extract work towards an external load. Experimental protocols, relying on real time feedback processing on FPGA devices, will be optimized using neural networks and simple training approaches.
-----------------------------------------
The subjects in the research theme include:
Information at the thermal fluctuation scales kBT
- Energy cost of information processing (Landauer)
- Extract energy from information (Maxwell demon)
- Experimental approaches and modelling