Information erasure without an energy cost
File version
Author(s)
Barnett, Stephen M
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
186797 bytes
File type(s)
application/pdf
Location
License
Abstract
Landauer argued that the process of erasing the information stored in a memory device incurs an energy cost in the form of a minimum amount of mechanical work. We find, however, that this energy cost can be reduced to zero by paying a cost in angular momentum or any other conserved quantity. Erasing the memory of Maxwell's demon in this way implies that work can be extracted from a single thermal reservoir at a cost of angular momentum and an increase in total entropy. The implications of this for the second law of thermodynamics are assessed.
Journal Title
Proceedings of the Royal Society A
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
467
Issue
2130
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2011 Royal Society. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal website for access to the definitive, published version.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Mathematical sciences
Physical sciences
Thermodynamics and statistical physics
Quantum information, computation and communication
Engineering