Fueled by unprecedented experimental control on the meso- and nano-scale, it has become a timely issue to resolve long-standing problems related to the apparent contradiction between quantum theory and thermodynamics. Indeed, in recent years, ground breaking progress has been made in understanding the precise microscopic mechanisms underlying thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The COST network aims at bringing together researchers with diverse backgrounds to bridge the gap between theory and experiment and forms an umbrella of a concerted effort to tackle both practical and fundamental problems arising in this context. The conference will focus on the following topics:

- Non-equilibrium dynamics of strongly correlated quantum systems
- Equilibration and thermalization in closed quantum systems
- Properties of thermal states
- Thermal machines and their efficiencies
- Microscopic definition of work
- Realizations in electronic systems, ultra-cold atoms, trapped ions, and other quantum optical systems

Programme committee

- Tony Short (chair)
- Janet Anders
- Mari Carmen Banuls
- Lidia del Rio
- Alberto Imparato
- Eric Lutz
- James Millen