51ÁÔÆæÈë¿Ú

Synopsis

The Mpemba effect is a phenomenon in which initially hotter systems can relax to thermal equilibrium faster than initially cooler systems, ceteris paribus. The phenomenon defies both intuition and conventional laws of cooling in equilibrium systems, and its exact mechanism – and even its very existence in its original setting of freezing water – are controversial to this day. However, many systems do seem to display the Mpemba effect, strongly motivating a general theory of nonequilibrium cooling. In the last decade, advances to this end have included a general theoretical framework for Markov systems and unambiguous experimental evidence for the Mpemba effects in noninteracting one-dimensional colloids. Previous work has largely assumed that cooling systems are coupled to baths that are instantaneously quenched. We seek to correct this typically unphysical assumption by studying, numerically and experimentally, the effects of finite-rate quenches. In this thesis, we build on previous work with numerical simulations and analytic solutions. Experimentally testing these results leads to numerous challenges that we discuss and resolve.

For Zoom link info, please contact Lindiwe Coyne at physgrad@sfu.ca.