Upcoming seminars

The field of quantum information takes a pragmatic approach to examining and utilizing quantum mechanics, seeking to obtain rigorous understandings of which information processing tasks can (e.g. quantum computing, communication) or cannot (e.g.

We investigate the fundamental trade-off between current fluctuations and entropy production for systems in non-equilibrium steady states (NESS). We use the technique of non-equilibrium statistical operators of McLennan/Zubarev form and illustrate how the entropy production can be expressed as a quantum relative entropy. Furthermore, by exploiting the geometry of the manifold of NESS states, we use parameter estimation in order to bound the co-variance of the currents in the NESS by the entropy production.

“Take a single DNA molecule and pull from its extremities while recording the force-extension curve until it gets fully straightened”. This thought experiment, which was just a dream a few decades ago, has now become standard in many research labs worldwide. Force spectroscopy techniques (such as laser optical tweezers) are a fabulous tool for manipulating and monitoring the direct action of biological molecules at the individual level, as well as measuring forces in the piconewton range and energies of roughly equivalent to 1kT, the thermal energy unit.