William Rupush: A Cybernetic Theory of Heat and Work

Abstract

In this thesis it is argued that the basic concepts of thermodynamics can be formalized using notions from control theory. Particular attention is paid to the distinction between heat and work, and it is argued that an implicit observability decomposition lies at the heart of the di fference between the two di fferent forms of energy flow. An explicit theory of heat and work for quantum systems is formulated based on this premise, and its implications are explored.