2018/03/28 by L.-L. Yan, L. L. Yan, T. P. Xiong +16
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Boson #Computer science #Entropy (arrow of time) #Erasure #Open quantum system #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum information #Quantum mechanics #Statistical physics #Theoretical physics #Uncertainty principle #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.120.210601
Three figures
arxiv created 2018/03/28 · openalex publication_date 2018/05/21 · arxiv updated 2018/06/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
One of the outstanding challenges to information processing is the eloquent suppression of energy consumption in the execution of logic operations. The Landauer principle sets an energy constraint in deletion of a classical bit of information. Although some attempts have been made to experimentally approach the fundamental limit restricted by this principle, exploring the Landauer principle in a purely quantum mechanical fashion is still an open question. Employing a trapped ultracold ion, we experimentally demonstrate a quantum version of the Landauer principle, i.e., an equality associated with the energy cost of information erasure in conjunction with the entropy change of the associated quantized environment. Our experimental investigation substantiates an intimate link between information thermodynamics and quantum candidate systems for information processing.