NMR Quantum Thermodynamics

Over the last 20 years NMR has become one of the main experimental techniques for verifying quantum information protocols in small systems with a few qubits. That includes quantum computation, quantum communication and quantum sensors. And even more, in the last 10 years the technique became the most important one in an area of fundamental interest known as Quantum Thermodynamics. In this area, problems related to quantum dynamics of thermal systems are addressed. With NMR, RF pulse sequences can manipulate spin populations and quantum coherences creating correlations between thermal ensembles which affect well established thermodynamic concepts. This seminar will present some studies of this type, including the so-called arrow of time problem, in particular an experiment in which heat flows from a colder system to a hotter one, inverting the direction of the arrow of time.