Stochastic thermodynamics for "Maxwell demon" feedbacks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a formalism to incorporate Maxwell demon-like feedbacks into stochastic thermodynamics, focusing on how informational feedbacks that modify energy barriers influence thermodynamic properties, exemplified by electron transfer in junctions.

Contribution

It develops a novel theoretical framework for analyzing informational feedbacks that alter energy barriers without affecting system energetics.

Findings

Formalism applies to feedback processes affecting electron transfers.

Demonstrates how informational feedbacks influence thermodynamic quantities.

Provides a basis for future studies on feedback-controlled thermodynamic systems.

Abstract

We propose a way to incorporate the effect of a specific class of feedback processes into stochastic thermodynamics. These "Maxwell demon" feedbacks do not affect the system energetics but only the energy barriers between the system states (in a way which depends on the system states). They are thus of a purely informational nature. We show that the resulting formalism can be applied to study the thermodynamic effect of a feedback process acting on electron transfers through a junction.