Quantum Control and Thermodynamics of Many-Body Systems and Networks

This Special Topic explores the emerging frontier where thermodynamic principles, quantum control, and many-body architectures converge to define prospective quantum technologies. As quantum systems become increasingly engineered and networked, understanding and manipulating the flow of energy, entropy, and information at the nanoscale becomes crucial. We invite contributions addressing the thermodynamics and control of open quantum systems consisting of diverse entities that range from few-body to many-body quantum ensembles, with emphasis on quantum networks and hybrid systems. The topic will encompass theoretical and experimental advances that elucidate how quantum correlations, non-equilibrium dynamics and time-dependent driving of such systems affect their coherence and dissipation, entropy and energy management through optimal quantum control. By bridging quantum thermodynamics, control theory, quantum many-body and network theory and their experimental implementation, this collection will inspire new strategies for energy-efficient, noise-resilient quantum information processing and transduction and thermodynamic devices in the quantum domain.