COST Action MP1209, "Thermodynamics in the Quantum Regime" is holding its sixth working group meeting in Malta from 21 to 24 February. This meeting is being organised by Dr Andr茅 Xuereb from the Department of Physics, in collaboration with the University of Malta Conferences Unit.
Thermodynamics is a phenomenological theory that allows the investigation of equilibrium properties of macroscopic objects. Based on fundamental measurable quantities -- heat and work -- it provides a universal framework to study the conversion of different forms of energy. Introduced 150 years ago, at the beginning of the industrial revolution, to analyze and improve the performance of the newly invented steam engine, it has been successfully applied since then to design a great variety of useful devices, from car engines and refrigerators to power plants and solar cells. In a famous quote, Einstein once hailed it as "the only physical theory of universal content concerning which I am convinced that, within the framework of the applicability of its basic concepts, it will never be overthrown."
The Malta meeting follows on from the previous working group meetings, serving to highlight and discuss results and questions relating to one specific working group of the action or to topics that cut across groups. This meeting is being organised along the lines of the three main themes addressed by the action: Thermalisation, information in thermodynamics, and implementations. Sessions that tie these themes together are also serving to provide a bird's eye view of the work achieved by this network, and the major questions that still remain open, as the half-way point of MP1209 is passed.
COST, the European Commission framework for Cooperation in Science and Technology, is managed in Malta by the Malta Council for Science and Technology.
Further information can be found at the following .
