• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Experimental Rectification of Entropy Production by Maxwell’s Demon in a Quantum System

Patrice A. Camati, John P. S. Peterson, Tiago B. Batalhão, Kaonan Micadei, Alexandre M. Souza, Roberto S. Sarthour, Ivan S. Oliveira, and Roberto M. Serra
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 240502 – Published 5 December 2016
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Maxwell’s Demon Meets Nonequilibrium Quantum Thermodynamics
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Maxwell’s demon explores the role of information in physical processes. Employing information about microscopic degrees of freedom, this “intelligent observer” is capable of compensating entropy production (or extracting work), apparently challenging the second law of thermodynamics. In a modern standpoint, it is regarded as a feedback control mechanism and the limits of thermodynamics are recast incorporating information-to-energy conversion. We derive a trade-off relation between information-theoretic quantities empowering the design of an efficient Maxwell’s demon in a quantum system. The demon is experimentally implemented as a spin-1/2 quantum memory that acquires information, and employs it to control the dynamics of another spin-1/2 system, through a natural interaction. Noise and imperfections in this protocol are investigated by the assessment of its effectiveness. This realization provides experimental evidence that the irreversibility in a nonequilibrium dynamics can be mitigated by assessing microscopic information and applying a feed-forward strategy at the quantum scale.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 26 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.240502

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & TechnologyStatistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Viewpoint

Key Image

Maxwell’s Demon Meets Nonequilibrium Quantum Thermodynamics

Published 5 December 2016

A new implementation of a Maxwell’s demon can control entropy production in a quantum-mechanical system that is driven out of thermal equilibrium.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Patrice A. Camati1, John P. S. Peterson2, Tiago B. Batalhão1, Kaonan Micadei1, Alexandre M. Souza2, Roberto S. Sarthour2, Ivan S. Oliveira2, and Roberto M. Serra1,3,*

  • 1Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, 09210-580 Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil
  • 2Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, 22290-180 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • 3Department of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

  • *Corresponding author. serra@ufabc.edu.br

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 24 — 9 December 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×