A review of quantum thermodynamics

Abstract

In this article, we present a brief and elementary review of quantum thermodynamics and its achievements and challenges. This review includes an introduction to some fundamental concepts such as internal energy, heat, work, entropy, entropy production, thermal equilibrium, second law of quantum thermodynamics, relation between thermodynamics and information theory, as well as a discussion of how quantum effects such as entanglement and correlations affect performance of quantum heat engines.

Keywords

• quantum thermodynamics
• energy
• heat
• entropy
• correlation
• information