Fluctuation Theorem with Information Exchange: Role of Correlations in Stochastic Thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper extends the fluctuation theorem to include information exchange, linking correlations to entropy production and setting limits on energy dissipation in nonequilibrium systems.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized fluctuation theorem incorporating information exchange, applicable to various processes beyond feedback control, unifying measurement and thermodynamics.

Findings

Generalized second law with information exchange established

Framework applies to feedback and broader information interactions

Sets fundamental limits on energy dissipation during information exchange

Abstract

We establish the fluctuation theorem in the presence of information exchange between a nonequilibrium system and other degrees of freedom such as an observer and a feedback controller, where the amount of information exchange is added to the entropy production. The resulting generalized second law sets the fundamental limit of energy dissipation and energy cost during the information exchange. Our results apply not only to feedback-controlled processes but also to a much broader class of information exchanges, and provides a unified framework of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of measurement and feedback control.