Lecturer:  Gilad Gour, Technion

Abstract:
Quantum entanglement, coherence, thermodynamic nonequilibrium, and other uniquely quantum features are often regarded as resources—valuable ingredients enabling tasks that would otherwise be impossible. In recent years, this perspective has been formalized through the framework of quantum resource theories, which unify diverse phenomena under a common operational and mathematical structure. In this talk, I will introduce the key ideas of this approach and explore a central question: When can quantum resources be interconverted without loss? This question touches on the heart of reversibility in quantum information science and connects to foundational thermodynamic principles. I will present examples where reversible transformations are possible, and others where irreversibility is unavoidable, revealing deep structural insights about quantum mechanics and information processing. The talk will be accessible to a general physics audience and will highlight recent advances, open problems, and surprising connections across subfields.