Applied Quantum Thermodynamics - SYK Quantum Batteries on Graphs
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Quantum thermodynamics is the study of thermodynamic concepts — like heat, work, and entropy — in systems that follow quantum mechanical rules. Unlike classical thermodynamics, which deals with macroscopic systems, quantum thermodynamics explores how these principles operate at the quantum scale, where phenomena like superposition, entanglement, and coherence play a central role. In quantum materials research, quantum thermodynamics helps us understand how energy and information flow in systems that exhibit quantum behaviour, such as superconductors or topological materials. It provides insight into how these materials behave far from equilibrium, where classical thermodynamics breaks down. For example, it can explain how energy is transferred in materials with strong quantum correlations or how thermal properties change during quantum phase transitions. In this talk, I will illustrate some of these ideas using quantum batteries; many-body systems capable of harnessing the power of quantum mechanics to charge, store and discharge energy orders of magnitude more efficiently than chemical batteries.