Optimal control of microscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems, Dr. Gavin Crooks, LBL
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Pacific/Honolulu
WAT 112 (Watanabe Hall)
WAT 112
Watanabe Hall
Description
Optimal control of microscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems
The control of energy and entropy is the domain of thermodynamics.
Historically this beautiful and insightful theory only captured
glacial flows of energy and gradual changes in entropy. However, our
understanding of fast, dramatically non-equilibrium processes�� been
revolutionized in the last two decades, beginning with the discovery
of the Fluctuation Theorems and the Jarzynski Equality. These new
theoretical insights were soon confirmed by new experimental
techniques that allowed direct measurement of energy flow at
microscopic scales. I will describe the basic theoretical insights underlying finite-time non-equilibrium thermodynamics. I'll then describe recent advances in understanding how to optimally control driven thermodynamic systems, using the Ising model as a particular example.
