One-particle engine with a porous piston

Abstract We propose a variation of the classical Szilard engine that uses a porous piston. Such an engine requires neither information about the position of the particle, nor the removal and subsequent insertion of the piston when resetting the engine to continue doing work by lifting a mass against...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carlos E. Álvarez, Manuel Camargo, Gabriel Téllez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18057-3
Description
Summary:Abstract We propose a variation of the classical Szilard engine that uses a porous piston. Such an engine requires neither information about the position of the particle, nor the removal and subsequent insertion of the piston when resetting the engine to continue doing work by lifting a mass against a gravitational field. Though the engine operates in contact with a single thermal reservoir, the reset mechanism acts as a second reservoir, dissipating energy when a mass that has been lifted by the engine is removed to initiate a new operation cycle.
ISSN:2045-2322