Time-Reversible Maxwell's Demon

Abstract

A time-reversible Maxwell's demon is demonstrated which creates a density difference between two chambers initialized to have equal density. The density difference is estimated theoretically and confirmed by computer simulations. It is found that the reversible Maxwell's demon compresses phase space volume even though its dynamics are time reversible. The significance of phase space volume compression in operating a microscopic heat engine also is discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA260170

Entities

People

  • P. A. Skordos

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Collisions
  • Compression
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Dynamics
  • Energy
  • Engines
  • Equations
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Engines
  • Physics
  • Probability
  • Reversible
  • Simulations
  • Time Intervals
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI).
  • Industrial Economics
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space