Szilard engine reversibility as quantum gate function
F. Matthew Mihelic
A quantum gate is a logically and thermodynamically reversible situation that effects a unitary transformation of qubits of superimposed information, and essentially constitutes a situation for a reversible quantum decision. A quantum decision is a symmetry break, and the effect of the function of a Szilard engine is a symmetry break. A quantum gate is a situation in which a reversible quantum decision can be made, and so if a logically and thermodynamically reversible Szilard engine can be theoretically constructed then it would function as a quantum gate. While the traditionally theorized Szilard engine is not thermodynamically reversible, if one of the bounding walls of a Szilard engine were to be constructed out of the physical information by which it functions in such a manner as to make that information available to both sides of the wall simultaneously, then such a Szilard engine would be both logically and thermodynamically reversible, and thus capable of function as a quantum gate. A theoretical model of the special case of a reversible Szilard engine functioning as a quantum gate is presented and discussed, and since a quantum decision is made when the shutter of a Szilard engine closes, the coherence of linked reversible Szilard engines should be considered as a state during which all of the shutters of linked Szilard engines are open simultaneously.
Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 1, 2012•3 citations