A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon
We introduce and investigate a simple and explicitly mechanical model of Maxwell’s demon—a device that interacts with a memory register (a stream of bits), a thermal reservoir (an ideal gas) and a work reservoir (a mass that can be lifted or lowered). Our device is similar to one...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Entropy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/21/1/65 |
| _version_ | 1818039665183162368 |
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| author | Zhiyue Lu Christopher Jarzynski |
| author_facet | Zhiyue Lu Christopher Jarzynski |
| author_sort | Zhiyue Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We introduce and investigate a simple and explicitly mechanical model of Maxwell’s demon—a device that interacts with a memory register (a stream of bits), a thermal reservoir (an ideal gas) and a work reservoir (a mass that can be lifted or lowered). Our device is similar to one that we have briefly described elsewhere, but it has the additional feature that it can be programmed to recognize a chosen reference sequence, for instance, the binary representation of π . If the bits in the memory register match those of the reference sequence, then the device extracts heat from the thermal reservoir and converts it into work to lift a small mass. Conversely, the device can operate as a generalized Landauer’s eraser (or copier), harnessing the energy of a dropping mass to write the chosen reference sequence onto the memory register, replacing whatever information may previously have been stored there. Our model can be interpreted either as a machine that autonomously performs a conversion between information and energy, or else as a feedback-controlled device that is operated by an external agent. We derive generalized second laws of thermodynamics for both pictures. We illustrate our model with numerical simulations, as well as analytical calculations in a particular, exactly solvable limit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:02:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4f61fdbac744d5a92731d331ab7f50e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1099-4300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:02:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Entropy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4f61fdbac744d5a92731d331ab7f50e2022-12-22T01:56:45ZengMDPI AGEntropy1099-43002019-01-012116510.3390/e21010065e21010065A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s DemonZhiyue Lu0Christopher Jarzynski1James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USAInstitute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USAWe introduce and investigate a simple and explicitly mechanical model of Maxwell’s demon—a device that interacts with a memory register (a stream of bits), a thermal reservoir (an ideal gas) and a work reservoir (a mass that can be lifted or lowered). Our device is similar to one that we have briefly described elsewhere, but it has the additional feature that it can be programmed to recognize a chosen reference sequence, for instance, the binary representation of π . If the bits in the memory register match those of the reference sequence, then the device extracts heat from the thermal reservoir and converts it into work to lift a small mass. Conversely, the device can operate as a generalized Landauer’s eraser (or copier), harnessing the energy of a dropping mass to write the chosen reference sequence onto the memory register, replacing whatever information may previously have been stored there. Our model can be interpreted either as a machine that autonomously performs a conversion between information and energy, or else as a feedback-controlled device that is operated by an external agent. We derive generalized second laws of thermodynamics for both pictures. We illustrate our model with numerical simulations, as well as analytical calculations in a particular, exactly solvable limit.http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/21/1/65Maxwell’s demonShannon entropyinformation engineLandauer’s principleSzilard enginesecond law of thermodynamics |
| spellingShingle | Zhiyue Lu Christopher Jarzynski A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon Entropy Maxwell’s demon Shannon entropy information engine Landauer’s principle Szilard engine second law of thermodynamics |
| title | A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon |
| title_full | A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon |
| title_fullStr | A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon |
| title_short | A Programmable Mechanical Maxwell’s Demon |
| title_sort | programmable mechanical maxwell s demon |
| topic | Maxwell’s demon Shannon entropy information engine Landauer’s principle Szilard engine second law of thermodynamics |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/21/1/65 |
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