Quantum memory as a perpetuum mobile? Stability v.s. reversibility of information processing
Quantum Physics
2012-08-14 v5
Abstract
It is argued using a Gedankenexperiment that a scalable quantum memory could be used as a perpetuum mobile of the second kind and hence cannot be realized in Nature. The reasoning is based on the assumption that the Landauer's principle for measurements is a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics and not an independent postulate. This implies a modification of the Landauer's principle when applied for discrimination of equilibrium (metastable) states. While identification of the metastable state can be done at the infinitesimally low cost, a change of such a state involves dissipation of energy proportional to its stability factor.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0901.0811,
title = {Quantum memory as a perpetuum mobile? Stability v.s. reversibility of information processing},
author = {Robert Alicki},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0901.0811},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
15 pages,no figures, amended text