Entropic probability and context states

TL;DR

This paper extends the concept of entropic probability within an information thermodynamics framework, linking free energy, information erasure, and work through augmented states and generalized distributions.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized entropic probability concept that incorporates reservoir and context states, connecting free energy with information and work.

Findings

Derived a generalized entropic probability distribution.

Established a relation between free energy, information erasure, and work.

Extended the axiomatic system to broader state collections.

Abstract

In a previous paper, we introduced an axiomatic system for information thermodynamics, deriving an entropy function that includes both thermodynamic and information components. From this function we derived an entropic probability distribution for certain uniform collections of states. Here we extend the concept of entropic probability to more general collections, augmenting the states by reservoir and context states. This leads to an abstract concept of free energy and establishes a relation between free energy, information erasure, and generalized work.