Information and Thermodynamics

Manabendra Nath Bera, Andreas Winter, Maciej Lewenstein

Kaonan Micadei, Roberto M. Serra, Lucas C. Céleri

Connections between information theory and thermodynamics have proven to be very useful to establish bounding limits for physical processes. Ideas such as Landauer's erasure principle and information-assisted work extraction have greatly contributed not only to broadening our understanding about the fundamental limits imposed by nature, but also paving the way for practical implementations of information-processing devices. The intricate information-thermodynamics relation also entails a fundamental limit on parameter estimation, establishing a thermodynamic cost for information acquisition. We show that the amount of information that can be encoded in a physical system by means of a unitary process is limited by the dissipated work during the implementation of the process. This includes a thermodynamic tradeoff for information acquisition. Likewise, the information acquisition process is ultimately limited by the second law of thermodynamics. This tradeoff for information acquisition may find applications in several areas of knowledge.

Jincheng Zhang

This paper explores the emerging intersection of quantum thermodynamics and quantum information processing. The core argument presented is that quantum information processing fundamentally relies on the thermodynamic properties of quantum systems and can be significantly advanced by leveraging the principles of quantum thermodynamics. This work establishes a framework for analyzing and designing quantum information protocols through the lens of thermodynamic constraints and efficiencies. We introduce a novel perspective where quantum information tasks are viewed as thermodynamic processes, allowing for a more rigorous understanding of their limitations and potential optimizations. The methodology presented aims to bridge the gap between information theory and thermodynamics, ultimately leading to the development of more robust and efficient quantum information systems. Key concepts explored include quantum work, heat dissipation, entropy production, and their implications for quantum data storage, quantum computation, and quantum communication. This research contributes to a fundamental shift in how we approach quantum information processing, moving beyond purely computational considerations to incorporate the underlying thermodynamic realities of quantum systems.

R. S. Ingarden, Andrzej Kossakowski, M. Ohya

R. S. Ingarden, Andrzej Kossakowski, Makoto Ohya

Koji Maruyama, Časlav Brukner, Vlatko Vedral

Thermodynamics is a macroscopic physical theory whose two very general laws are independent of any underlying dynamical laws and structures. Nevertheless, its generality enables us to understand a broad spectrum of phenomena in physics, information science and biology. Does thermodynamics then imply any results in quantum information theory? Taking accessible information in a system as an example, we show that thermodynamics implies a weaker bound on it than the quantum mechanical one (the Holevo bound). In other words, if any post-quantum physics should allow more information storage it could still be under the umbrella of thermodynamics.