  Combining quantum information theory with thermodynamics unites 21st-century
technology with 19th-century principles. The union elucidates the spread of
information, the flow of time, and the leveraging of energy. This thesis
contributes to the theory of quantum thermodynamics, particularly to
quantum-information-theoretic thermodynamics. The thesis also contains
applications of the theory, wielded as a toolkit, across physics. Fields
touched on include atomic, molecular, and optical physics; nonequilibrium
statistical mechanics; condensed matter; high-energy physics; and chemistry. I
propose the name "quantum steampunk" for this program. The term derives from
the steampunk genre of literature, art, and cinema that juxtaposes futuristic
technologies with 19th-century settings.
