The field of dynamics of small quantum systems is undergoing a rapid phase of development due to the emergence of new devices based on quantum superposition and coherence (the Second Quantum Revolution [1]). An outstanding scientific and technical challenge in this field is to understand and control the influence of an external environment to the dynamical state and operation of quantum devices coupled to it [2].
To this end it is crucial to model: (i) the thermodynamic behavior of small quantum systems, both isolated and open to the external environment (natural or engineered); (ii) the fluctuation relations that connect thermodynamic quantities such as work and free energy of the device; (iii) effects of the environment beyond weak coupling; (iv) the effect of the environment on strongly-correlated many-body physics and the emergence of new types of physics in open many-body quantum systems.

Currently, there are various isolated communities working on small quantum systems from very different perspectives, including researchers from atomic physics (including cold atom and trapped ion systems), quantum optics and quantum chaos, as well as more recently strongly-correlated theorists who have been turning their attention and applying their tools to many-body open systems. The aim of this workshop is to bring together leading researchers from different backgrounds to cross-fertilize theoretical and numerical methodologies, and to present new results and methodologies to attack and discuss open outstanding problems. In particular, the unique feature here is to bring together experts on methods including Master Equation (Lindblad) and Quantum Langevin Equation approaches [3], Tensor Network Methods [4], Transfer Tensor Methods [5], Dynamical Mean Field Theory [6], and Machine Learning [7] just to mention a few. These originate in different communities ranging from "hard" condensed matter to strongly-correlated systems, atomic physics and quantum thermodynamics.

The invited and contributed talks were originally planned to cover many theoretical and computational aspects related to open quantum systems and their application to quantum computing, quantum heat engines, and optimal control of quantum systems. However, due to the rapidly escalating pandemic (Dec. 2021) the workshop will be conducted fully online and the program will be accommodated accordingly.

The online version of the workshop will comprise two invited talks each day, followed by a panel discussion where the audience can also participate. For the benefit of the community, we have decided to focus on one well-defined theme each day. These are:

1. Computational development of open quantum systems: Beyond Markovian master equations

2. Quantum thermodynamics and heat engines -- are they good for anything?

3. New directions (quantum AI, thermodynamics of many-body systems etc.)