Reading Group on Stochastic Thermodynamics: An Introduction

This January, we are launching a reading group on Stochastic Thermodynamics: An Introduction by Luca Peliti and Simone Pigolotti. The book provides a pedagogical and up-to-date exploration of stochastic thermodynamics, a subfield of statistical physics that describes the nonequilibrium behavior of small systems, from molecular machines to information processing systems and artificial nanodevices.

The sessions will guide participants through the core concepts of stochastic thermodynamics, connecting foundational knowledge in statistical physics and thermodynamics with applications in molecular biophysics and the thermodynamics of information. This reading group is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of this vibrant field and discuss its relevance to biological modeling and other scientific domains.

Who Is It Intended For?

This reading group is designed for anyone interested in exploring ideas on nonequilibrium statistical physics, biophysics, thermodynamics of information, stochastic processes and information theory.

Schedule

We will meet every two weeks, with each session dedicated to one chapter. Meetings will focus on discussions, exercises, and biological modeling perspectives. Sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 15:00h to 16:30h.

Calendar

Session 1 (Jan 21): Chapters 1–2: Motivation & Basics – An introduction to the scope of stochastic thermodynamics, its relevance, and the foundational principles of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
Optional additional reading:
- Jarzynski C (1997)  - Nonequilibrium Equality for Free Energy Differences

Session 2 (Feb 4): Chapter 3: Stochastic Thermodynamics – A detailed exploration of key concepts such as work, heat, and entropy at the level of stochastic trajectories.
Optional additional reading:
- Van den Broeck C & Esposito M (2015). Ensemble and Trajectory Thermodynamics: A Brief Introduction

Session 3 (Feb 25): Chapter 4: Fluctuation Relations – Understanding the role of entropy production in nonequilibrium systems and the symmetry relations governing fluctuations.
Optional additional reading:
- Crooks, GE (1998). Nonequilibrium Measurements of Free Energy Differences for Microscopically Reversible Markovian Systems

Session 4 (Mar 11): Chapter 5: Thermodynamics of Information – Insights into the interplay between thermodynamics and information, including Maxwell's demon, Landauer’s principle, and information reservoirs.
Optional additional reading:
- Sagawa T  (2012). Thermodynamics of Information Processing in Small Systems

Session 5 (Mar 25): Chapter 6: Large Deviations: Theory and Practice – An introduction to large deviation theory and its applications in understanding rare events and stochastic processes.
Optional additional reading:
- Touchette H (2009). The large deviation approach to statistical mechanics.

Session 6 (Apr 8): Chapter 7: Experimental Applications – Discussion of experiments that validate stochastic thermodynamics and its use in extracting free energies and studying molecular machines.
Optional additional reading:
- Ciliberto S (2017). Experiments in Stochastic Thermodynamics: Short History and Perspectives

Session 7 (Apr 22): Chapter 8: Developments & Perspectives – A survey of recent advances, including thermodynamic uncertainty relations and optimal protocols, and a look at future directions in the field.
Optional additional reading:
- Wolpert DH, Korbel J, Lynn CW & Paradiso J (2024) - Is stochastic thermodynamics the key to understanding the energy costs of computation?