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arXiv · 1402.5907

Experimental realization of a Szilard engine with a single electron

J. V. Koski·V. F. Maisi·J. P. Pekola·D. V. Averin
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Abstract

The most succinct manifestation of the second law of thermodynamics is the limitation the Landauer principle imposes on the amount of heat a Maxwell demon (MD) can convert into free energy per single bit of information obtained in a measurement. We suggest and experimentally realize a reversible electronic MD based on a single-electron box operated as a Szilard engine, providing the first demonstration of this limitation: extraction of kT ln 2 of heat from the reservoir at temperature T per one bit of created information. The information is encoded in the position of an extra electron in the box.

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J. V. Koski, V. F. Maisi, J. P. Pekola, D. V. Averin. 2014-02-24. Experimental realization of a Szilard engine with a single electron. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1406966111

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