Optimal thermodynamic processes and applications

Abstract

The present proposal aims the maintenance of the scientific colaboration between the host and the visitor started with FAPESP funding (project n.o 2012/07429-0) for a visit to Prof. C. Jarzhynski's group at the University of Maryland, USA, between July, 2013 and July, 2014. Besides the ongoing research on optimal thermodynamic processes, we intend to intensify the collaboration on new topics and involving students from the host institution. We are very much interested on the relations between optimal thermodynamic processes in finite time and shortcuts to adiabaticity. The student who is going to be involved with this project was recently invited by the visitor for a visit to Los Alamos National Lab next January (see documents attached). Due to the expertise of the visitor on out-of-equilibrium quantum systems and the relations between thermodynamics and information, we strongly believe that not only our group but also other groups of the host institution will benefit from his visit. (AU)