Information and the second law of thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new formulation of the Second Law of thermodynamics that applies to both deterministic classical and stochastic quantum processes by integrating information theory, offering a broader and more operational understanding of entropy production.

Contribution

It introduces a novel definition of the Second Law that incorporates information theory, extending its validity to stochastic quantum thermodynamics.

Findings

The new law applies to both classical and quantum stochastic processes.

Provides an operational interpretation for positive and negative entropy production.

Connects thermodynamics with information theory in a fundamental way.

Abstract

The second law of classical thermodynamics, based on the positivity of the entropy production, only holds for deterministic processes. Therefore the Second Law in stochastic quantum thermodynamics may not hold. By making a fundamental connection between thermodynamics and information theory we will introduce a new way of defining the Second Law which holds for both deterministic classical and stochastic quantum thermodynamics. Our work incorporates information well into the Second Law and also provides a thermodynamic operational meaning for negative and positive entropy production.