Irreversibility and Dissipation by Juan Parrondo
By ZEEYA MERALI • May. 30, 2020 @ 16:15 GMT

Abstract:

We learn in undergraduate courses the intimate relationship between entropy and irreversibility: an irreversible process is characterized by an increase of entropy. In the last years and using concepts from information theory, we have been able to quantify irreversibility and relate this measure of irreversibility to the entropy produced along a process. More recently, we have applied these ideas to estimate the entropy production in biophysical processes. Entropy production is closely related to relevant quantities in biophysics which are hard to measure., such as the ATP consumption. Out technique allows one to estimate the entropy production even in the absence of currents and flows, where the standard methods from irreversible thermodynamics fail. We can in principle detect if a system is far from equilibrium in the absence of currents. In biophysics, this is equivalent to discern if a process is active or passive, valuable information to find out the physical mechanisms behind molecular motors and other systems.

Keywords: #QuarantineThermo #InformationAsFuel #quantumthermodynamics #entropy #biophysics #molecularmotors




Electromechanics for thermodynamics at the nano-scale by Natalia Ares
By NATALIA ARES • May. 30, 2020 @ 15:57 GMT

FQXI's Natalia Ares describes how quantum physicists are seeking to better understand how thermodynamics operates at small scales. Here, fluctuations are significant and quantum behaviour arises. This may reveal possibilities for entirely novel technologies.

We can explore thermodynamics in this limit by combining exquisite control over mechanical degrees of freedom and the quantum states of confined electrons. Ares describes how to detect the displacement of a carbon nanotube approaching the standard quantum limit near the phonon ground state [1-2]. With quantum dots embedded in a carbon nanotube, her team has been able to explore the impact of electron tunnelling in the nanotube’s mechanical energy, evidenced by the excitation of coherent self oscillations [3]. Ares discusses the potential of these findings to pave the way for experiments on quantum thermodynamics, in particular, for direct measurements of work exchange.

References

[1] N. Ares et al. Physical Review Letters 117, 170801 (2016)

[2] Y. Wen et al. Applied Physics Letters 113, 153101 (2018)

[3] Y. Wen et al. Nature Physics 16, 75 (2020)

Keywords: QuarantineThermo InformationAsFuel nanotechnology carbonnanotubes quantumdots




Micro and macro-physics with gravitational waves in the next decades by Viviana Fafone
By ZEEYA MERALI • May. 30, 2020 @ 15:36 GMT

Viviana Fafone is a member of the VIRGO collaboration that detects gravitational waves. She describes hopes for using gravitational waves for the coming decades.

Keywords: INSPYRE students gravitationalwaves astrophysics cosmology VIRGO




Bionanotechnologies and other applications by Antonino Cataldo
By ZEEYA MERALI • May. 30, 2020 @ 15:33 GMT

Antonino Cataldo describes the how to synthesize bio-nanotechnologies to make devices for medical applications.

Keywords: INSPYRE schools biophysics medicine nanotechnology




The 21st Century News Jungle by Matteo Martini
By ZEEYA MERALI • May. 30, 2020 @ 15:29 GMT

What is the scientific approach? Matteo Martini talks about the transferable skills you will learn as a scientist and how you may use them in everyday life. This is important for distinguishing between real and fake news and debunking myths.

Keywords: INSPYRE student media skills fakenews debunkingmyths



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