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Dynamical Landauer Principle: Quantifying Information Transmission by Thermodynamics
1ICFO-Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, University of Bristol, H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom and , The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08860 Castelldefels, Spain.
Physical Review Letters
|February 21, 2025
Summary
This study reveals a fundamental link between energy transfer and information transmission. Transmitting classical bits is equivalent to specific energy tasks, quantifying communication using thermodynamics and uncovering a dynamical Landauer's principle.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Information Theory
- Quantum Dynamics
Background:
- Energy transfer and information transmission are fundamental natural processes.
- Recent findings suggest a deep, yet undiscovered, connection between these two domains.
- The study investigates whether classical information transmission can be equivalently described as energy transmission tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an analytical correspondence between classical information transmission and thermodynamic energy tasks.
- To quantify classical communication processes using thermodynamic principles.
- To uncover foundational links between information theory and thermodynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of quantum dynamics for classical communication tasks.
- Formulation of energy-transmitting tasks equivalent to information transmission.
- Investigation in both general and asymptotic regimes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated equivalence between transmitting n bits of classical information and n units of energy.
- Established a quantitative link between information transmission and energy extraction.
- Uncovered a dynamical version of Landauer's principle, highlighting the information-energy connection.
Conclusions:
- Classical communication can be precisely quantified by thermodynamic tasks.
- The findings reveal a strong, dynamical link between information and energy.
- Thermodynamic interpretations are provided for key theorems in quantum communication theory, such as the Holevo-Schumacher-Westmoreland theorem.
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