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Influence of measurement error on Maxwell's demon.
Vegard Sørdal1, Joakim Bergli1, Y M Galperin1,2
1Department of Physics, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
Physical Review. E
|July 16, 2017
Summary
Measurement errors in thermodynamic cycles decrease system entropy reduction. This study optimizes protocols for a single-electron box Szilard engine to manage errors and maximize power output despite irreversibility.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
- Information Theory
Background:
- Thermodynamic cycles involve measurement, feedback, and erasure.
- Landauer's principle states erasure increases entropy.
- Measurement errors can lead to irreversible processes and increased entropy production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of measurement errors on a single-electron box Szilard engine.
- To determine optimal operational protocols under realistic error conditions.
- To balance power output with entropy production in the presence of errors.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of a single-electron box Szilard engine model.
- Investigating the consequences of measurement errors on entropy and information.
- Deriving optimal control protocols as a function of power and error rate.
Main Results:
- Measurement errors reduce the entropy decrease associated with information gain.
- Erasure still contributes to entropy increase, making the overall process irreversible.
- Suboptimal feedback due to errors further escalates entropy production.
- An optimal protocol is identified to manage power and error.
Conclusions:
- Measurement errors fundamentally impact the reversibility and efficiency of thermodynamic cycles.
- Optimized protocols are crucial for mitigating negative effects of errors in nanoscale engines.
- This work provides a framework for designing robust nanoscale thermodynamic systems.
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