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Unifying three perspectives on information processing in stochastic thermodynamics.

A C Barato¹, U Seifert¹

¹II. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany.

Physical Review Letters

|March 25, 2014

Summary

This study generalizes stochastic thermodynamics by deriving new second laws for feedback-driven systems with information reservoirs, like tapes. It reveals extra terms in entropy production beyond standard current-affinity relations.

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Area of Science:

Statistical mechanics
Information theory
Non-equilibrium thermodynamics

Background:

Feedback-driven systems are crucial in thermodynamics, previously analyzed via measurement/control, tape interactions, or Maxwell demons.
Existing models often lack a unified framework to incorporate information reservoirs.
Stochastic thermodynamics traditionally focuses on systems without explicit information storage.

Purpose of the Study:

To derive generalized second laws for feedback-driven systems incorporating information reservoirs.
To unify different approaches to feedback-driven systems under a single theoretical framework.
To investigate the thermodynamic cost associated with information processing.

Main Methods:

Derivation of generalized second laws from a master fluctuation theorem.
Analysis of entropy production in systems with mutual information and information reservoirs.
Comparison of derived laws with existing models of feedback-driven systems.

Main Results:

The study derives generalized second laws applicable to systems with information reservoirs.
Entropy production terms involving mutual information and Shannon entropy differences are identified.
These terms include an extra component not present in standard current-affinity relations.

Conclusions:

Stochastic thermodynamics is successfully generalized to include information reservoirs.
The findings highlight the thermodynamic significance of information processing in physical systems.
This work provides a more comprehensive understanding of energy-information interplay in non-equilibrium processes.