Nanoscale thermodynamics

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• Andrew Briggs, Department of Materials, The University of Oxford
• Thursday 13 November 2025, 15:00-16:00
• The Cluster Room, A0.022, Ray Dolby Centre, Cavendish Laboratory.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Stephen Walley.

Thermodynamics was originally developed for large numbers of particles in macroscopic systems. Things can be very different on the nanoscale, and new questions arise:

1. How is small different from big? As nanoscale size is approached, so the effect of individual disturbances becomes significant and measurable.

2. How is few different from many? As the number of particles is reduced, it may become possible to forgo ignorance of individual positions and momenta.

3. How is cold different from hot? Many, or perhaps most, nanoscale thermodynamics experiments are carried out at low temperatures.

4. How is quantum different from classical? Quantum heat engines can be used to cool and initialise quantum devices.

The talk will focus on experiments which address questions such as these in new ways.

This talk is part of the Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Cavendish Laboratory Seminars
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• Featured lists
• ME Seminar
• Neurons, Fake News, DNA and your iPhone: The Mathematics of Information
• Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group
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• The Cluster Room, A0.022, Ray Dolby Centre, Cavendish Laboratory
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