Thermodynamic Bounds Beyond the Second Law

The second law of thermodynamics is a fundamental but phenomenological bound on systems moving between equilibrium states, and equilibrium statistical physics describes many-particle systems in thermal equilibrium with great generality. Out of equilibrium, the second law in its form of non-negative entropy change no longer holds in general, yet comparably fundamental bounds appear to constrain non-equilibrium behaviour. Such bounds are formulated within stochastic thermodynamics, which - under certain assumptions - offers a general theory for small out-of-equilibrium systems and extends equilibrium concepts such as the fluctuation-dissipation theorem, current fluctuations and linear response. This Nordita programme focuses on inference tools for estimating entropy production in non-equilibrium (often steady-state) systems, on how finite entropy production constrains dynamics through bounds and trade-offs, and on what such thermodynamic constraints imply for living systems.