Energetics of correlations in interacting systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how interactions in physical systems influence the work cost of creating correlations, revealing strategies to reduce this cost even in naturally coupled systems.

Contribution

It introduces general strategies to lower the work cost of correlations in interacting systems, extending thermodynamic principles to naturally coupled systems.

Findings

Interactions affect the work cost of correlations.

Strategies can reduce the work cost in naturally coupled systems.

Illustrations provided for specific physical systems.

Abstract

A fundamental connection between thermodynamics and information theory arises from the fact that correlations exhibit an inherent work value. For noninteracting systems this translates to a work cost for establishing correlations. Here we investigate the relationship between work and correlations in the presence of interactions that cannot be controlled or removed. For such naturally coupled systems, which are correlated even in thermal equilibrium, we determine general strategies that can reduce the work cost of correlations, and illustrate these for a selection of exemplary physical systems.