Probing the power of an electronic Maxwell Demon

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a single-electron transistor, when monitored and controlled via feedback, can act as a Maxwell demon, inducing current without bias or thermal gradients, with potential for practical implementation.

Contribution

It introduces a feedback-based Maxwell demon model using a single-electron transistor and derives effective master equations for different feedback schemes.

Findings

Feedback can induce current without bias or thermal gradient.

Derived master equations for various feedback protocols.

Device implementation feasible with current technology.

Abstract

We suggest that a single-electron transistor continuously monitored by a quantum point contact may function as a Maxwell demon when closed-loop feedback operations are applied as time-dependent modifications of the tunneling rates across its junctions. The device may induce a current across the single-electron transistor even when no bias voltage or thermal gradient is applied. For different feedback schemes, we derive effective master equations and compare the induced feedback current and its fluctuations as well as the generated power. Provided that tunneling rates can be modified without changing the transistor level, the device may be implemented with current technology.