Second law, Landauer's Principle and Autonomous information machine

TL;DR

This paper explores how an autonomous information machine can operate as an engine, eraser, or refrigerator, utilizing information as a resource while respecting the generalized second law of thermodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a simple autonomous information machine model demonstrating multiple functionalities governed by the generalized second law.

Findings

The system can function as an engine, eraser, or refrigerator.

Performance is enhanced by using information as a resource.

All functionalities comply with the generalized second law.

Abstract

Second law of thermodynamics can be apparently violated for systems whose dynamics depends on acquired information by measurement. However, when one consider measurement and erasure process together along with the system it saves the second law. We consider a simple example of information machine where information is used as a resource to increase its performance. The system is connected to two baths, a work source and a moving tape which is used as an information reservoir. The performance of the device is autonomous. The system acts as an engine, erasure or refrigerator. Even combination of any two is possible. All these possibilities are allowed by generalized second law.