Thermodynamics in Single-Electron Circuits and Superconducting Qubits

Classical and quantum electronic circuits provide ideal platforms to investigate stochastic thermodynamics, and they have served as a stepping stone to realize Maxwell's Demons with highly controllable protocols. In this article, we first review the central thermal phenomena in quantum nanostructures. Thermometry and basic refrigeration methods are described as enabling tools for thermodynamics experiments. Next, we discuss the role of information in thermodynamics that leads to the concept of Maxwell's Demon. Various Maxwell's Demons realized in single-electron circuits over the past couple of years are described. Currently, true quantum thermodynamics in superconducting circuits is a focus of attention, and we end the review by discussing the ideas and first experiments in this exciting area of research.