A Live Maxwell's Demon

TL;DR

This paper presents an experimental realization of Maxwell's Demon using neutron scattering to directly measure and manipulate particle velocity distributions in a material, demonstrating control over microscopic energy states.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of neutron scattering data to replicate Maxwell's Demon, enabling direct measurement and selective control of particle velocities in a material.

Findings

Successful direct measurement of particle velocity distribution in Perspex at 293 K.

Demonstration of creating hot and cold reservoirs from the same material without disturbance.

First experimental replication of Maxwell's Demon with neutron scattering techniques.

Abstract

The first direct experimental replication of the Maxwell Demon thought experiment is outlined. The experiment determines the velocity/kinetic energy distribution of the particles in a sample by a novel interpretation of the results from a standard time-of-flight (TOF) small angle neutron scattering (SANS) procedure. Perspex at 293 K was subjected to neutrons at 82.2 K. The key result is a TOF velocity distribution curve that is a direct spatial and time-dependent microscopic probe of the velocity distribution of the Perspex nuclei at 293 K. Having this curve, one can duplicate the Demon's approach by selecting neutrons at known kinetic energies. One example is given: namely, two reservoirs -- hot and cold reservoirs -- were generated from the 293 K source without disturbing its original 293 K energy distribution.