Ultrafast Thermodynamics

Research Project, 2024 – 2025

Imagine a laser pulse rapidly controlling material properties in sub-picosecond timescales, driving intense nonequilibrium dynamics in material excitations. To study these phenomena, we introduce "ultrafast thermodynamics (UTher)" drawing from stochastic thermodynamics, a concept pioneered in biological physics. This approach unveils microscopic dynamics and timescales in ultrafast thermodynamic processes within materials. Our project, focuses on monitoring entropy and heat production in pump-probe experiments, particularly at large-scale facilities like XFEL or Max IV. For magnetic systems, UTher aims to advance information technology and spintronics, where entropy production is linked to information loss.