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Stochastic Independence as a Resource in Small-Scale Thermodynamics
Matteo Lostaglio1, Markus P Müller2,3,4, Michele Pastena4
1Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|November 10, 2015
Summary
Creating correlations in microscopic systems surprisingly enables impossible thermodynamic transformations. This allows single-shot state changes previously requiring many systems, reducing thermodynamic constraints for work extraction.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Quantum Information
Background:
- Thermodynamics traditionally posits that creating correlations requires work.
- This principle suggests that impossible transformations remain impossible even with auxiliary systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of correlations in nonequilibrium thermodynamics of microscopic systems.
- To determine if correlations can enable previously impossible thermodynamic transformations.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of thermodynamic transformations involving auxiliary systems.
- Quantification of correlations using mutual information.
- Focus on single-shot processes in microscopic systems.
Main Results:
- Contrary to intuition, creating correlations extends accessible states in microscopic systems.
- Any transformation becomes possible if the nonequilibrium free energy decreases.
- Minimal correlations (mutual information) and few auxiliary systems (≤3) suffice.
Conclusions:
- Correlations can overcome traditional thermodynamic limitations in microscopic systems.
- This opens possibilities for efficient work extraction from microscopic engines.
- The findings challenge conventional understanding of thermodynamic constraints.
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