Experimental Realizations of Information Engines: Beyond Proof of Concept

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental realizations of information engines, highlighting advances, challenges, and new opportunities in controlling thermodynamic systems using measurement-based feedback.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of experimental progress beyond proof-of-concept, emphasizing applications to complex systems and the use of optimal control techniques.

Findings

Experimental realizations confirm theoretical predictions.

New implementations challenge existing thermodynamic understanding.

Opportunities include active, many-body, and inertial systems.

Abstract

Gathering information about a system enables greater control over it. This principle lies at the core of information engines, which use measurement-based feedback to rectify thermal noise and convert information into work. Originating from Maxwell's and Szil\'ard's thought experiments, the thermodynamics of information engines has steadily advanced, with recent experimental realizations both confirming established results and pushing the field forward. Coupled with technological advances and developments in nonequilibrium thermodynamics, novel implementations of information engines continue to challenge theoretical understanding. In this perspective, we discuss recent progress and highlight new opportunities, such as applying information engines to active, many-body, and inertial systems, and leveraging tools like optimal control to design their driving protocols.