The nonequilibrium cost of accurate information processing.

Area of Science:

• Quantum mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Information theory

Background:

• Accurate information processing is essential in both natural and technological systems.
• Information processing requires resources not in thermal equilibrium.

Purpose of the Study:

• Establish a fundamental limit on accuracy for any information processing system.
• Define this limit using a computable entropic quantity: reverse entropy.

Main Methods:

• Developed a fundamental limit applicable to all quantum mechanical systems.
• Expressed the limit in terms of reverse entropy, related to the time-reversed task.

Main Results:

• The established limit is achievable for deterministic classical computations and their quantum extensions.
• Derived the optimal tradeoff between nonequilibrium resources and accuracy for fundamental information tasks (storing, transmitting, cloning, erasing).

Conclusions:

• Results provide a target for designing highly efficient information processing devices.
• Offers a framework for demonstrating quantum devices' thermodynamic advantages over classical ones.