Realizing Information Erasure in Finite Time

TL;DR

This paper investigates the fundamental limits and practical protocols for erasing a bit of information within finite time, focusing on minimizing heat dissipation based on recent thermodynamic and stochastic control theories.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical bound for finite-time information erasure using Wasserstein distances and compares optimal and existing protocols to approach this bound.

Findings

Optimal protocols closely approach the theoretical minimum heat dissipation.

Deviations from optimality are characterized and analyzed.

Finite-time erasure can be significantly improved with protocol optimization.

Abstract

In this article, we focus on erasure of a bit of information in finite time. Landauer's principle states that the average heat dissipation due to erasure of information is k_B T ln 2, which is achievable only in an asymptotic manner. Recent theoretical developments in non-equilibrium thermodynamics and stochastic control, predict a more general bound for finite time erasure dependent on the Wasserstein distances between the initial and final configurations. These predictions suggest improvements to experimental protocol with regards to minimizing average heat dissipation for bit erasure in finite time from a bistable well, under overdamped Langevin dynamics. We present a comparative study of a theoretically optimal protocol with an existing protocol, and highlight the closeness and deviation from optimality