Memory and entropy

2020/03/14 by Carlo Rovelli, Rovelli, Carlo · 1 voice · 2 citations
Neuroscience · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2003.06687

Abstract

I study the physical nature of traces (or memories). Surprisingly, (i) systems separation with (ii) temperature differences and (iii) long thermalization times, are sufficient conditions to produce macroscopic traces. Traces of the past are ubiquitous because these conditions are largely satisfied in our universe. I quantify these thermodynamical conditions for memory and derive an expression for the maximum amount of information stored in such memories, as a function of the relevant thermodynamical parameters. This mechanism transforms low entropy into available information.

Cited by

• Disentangling Boltzmann Brains, the Time-Asymmetry of Memory, and the Second Law
• Time as a Cosmological Phenomenon

Discussions

• It reads to me like some "conference jamming" rather than flattening since they acknowledge in the end the limit of perspectives. Based on this interesting paper www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/24... where Rov [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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