Physical Limitations of Work Extraction from Temporal Correlations

TL;DR

This paper investigates the physical constraints on extracting work from temporal correlations in thermodynamic systems, showing that continuous dynamics limit efficiency, but external protocols can overcome these limitations.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of active driving protocols to bypass physical limitations in work extraction from temporal correlations.

Findings

Continuous dynamics constrain work extraction efficiency.

External time-varying protocols enable overcoming physical limitations.

Active driving transforms passive devices into more efficient systems.

Abstract

Recently proposed information-exploiting systems designed to extract work from a single heat bath utilize temporal correlations on an input tape. We study how enforcing time-continuous dynamics, which is necessary to ensure the device is physically realizable, constrains possible designs and drastically diminishes efficiency. We show that these problems can be circumvented by means of applying an external, time-varying protocol. This turns the device from a "passive", free-running machine into an "actively" driven one.