Physical limits on information processing

TL;DR

This paper establishes a fundamental physical limit on information processing rates based on quantum mechanics and general relativity, linking it to black hole entropy and the holographic principle.

Contribution

It derives a universal upper bound on processing speed for physical devices, connecting quantum, relativistic, and gravitational principles.

Findings

Maximum processing rate scales with the cube root of volume

Connection between processing limits and black hole entropy

Supports the holographic principle in information theory

Abstract

We derive a fundamental upper bound on the rate at which a device can process information (i.e., the number of logical operations per unit time), arising from quantum mechanics and general relativity. In Planck units a device of volume V can execute no more than the cube root of V operations per unit time. We compare this to the rate of information processing performed by nature in the evolution of physical systems, and find a connection to black hole entropy and the holographic principle.