Maxwells demon and the entropy cost of information. Entropy, classical and quantum information, computing, is an updated and expanded version of the original. It is also shown that there is an entropy symmetry between the. We present an analysis of szilards onemolecule maxwell s demon, including a detailed entropy accounting, that suggests a general theory of the entropy cost of information. The existence of maxwell s demon is a direct threat to the second law of thermodynamics. Erasing information is a thermodynamically irreversible process that. An annotated chronological bibliography provides a colourful perspective on maxwell s demon and a rich trail of citations for further study. Entropy, classical and quantum information, computing paperback dec.
In this paper, we will underline the flaw that exists in maxwell s demon paradox using chemical. The demon is a computer program running on a pc and the camera. Entropy, information, computing in 1990, maxwell s demon has been the subject of renewed and increased interest by numerous researchers in the fields mentioned above. Maxwells demon is a thought experiment created by the physicist james clerk maxwell in. Entropy, information, computing princeton series in physics on. Daemons in computing, generally processes that run on servers to respond to.
In the thought experiment, a demon controls a small door between two chambers of gas. Buy maxwells demon, entropy, information, computing on. Maxwells demon, nonequilibrium physics, brownian motion, jarzynski. Entropy, classical and quantum information, computing. Famously, early in the twentieth century leo szilard modeled the effect this demon plays in measurements on a heat engine and introduced the concept of an information bit. More recently, lubkin and fahn have analyzed szilards engine. Entropy, classical and quantum information, computing find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Pdf maxwells demon and the second law of thermodynamics. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The lack of information about the system corresponds to the entropy. After more than 120 years of uncertain life and at least two pronouncements of death, this fanciful character seems more vibrant than ever. As the dictionary entry above shows, maxwells demon is no more than a simple idea. Entropy, information, computing makes the key literature easily available and helps with the crossfertilisation of ideas in different disciplines.
Maxwell s demon is a thought experiment created by the physicist james clerk maxwell in 1867 in which he suggested how the second law of thermodynamics might hypothetically be violated. Discarding it leads to immediate increase in entropy but the demon cannot store. It is shown that the entropy of the demon increases during the expansion step, due to the decoupling of the molecule from the measurement information. As individual gas molecules approach the door, the demon quickly opens and shuts the door so that only fast molecules are.
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