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Title: A heat engine model of a reversible computation

Abstract

Using the tools of information theory and thermodynamics, reversible computation at the binary level is modeled as a heat engine operating in a Carnot cycle. The model defines an information-theoretic temperature for a binary system, and predicts that reversible computation can be accomplished without the dissipation of energy. However, in the worst case limit, kT log 2 joules of stored energy per operation per bit are required. Furthermore, T is not the ambient temperature, but the information-theoretic temperature, which for this case is infinite.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Supercomputing Research Center, Bowie, MD (US)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6675349
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 78:5; Journal ID: ISSN 0018-9219
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE; 42 ENGINEERING; CARNOT CYCLE; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; HEAT ENGINES; THERMODYNAMICS; BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS; DISSIPATION FACTOR; ENERGY SYSTEMS; ENGINES; THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES; 140700* - Solar Thermal Power Systems; 200102 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Power Cycles; 990200 - Mathematics & Computers; 425000 - Engineering- Power Cycles- (1980-)

Citation Formats

Jablonski, D G. A heat engine model of a reversible computation. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.1109/5.53401.
Jablonski, D G. A heat engine model of a reversible computation. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/5.53401
Jablonski, D G. 1990. "A heat engine model of a reversible computation". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/5.53401.
@article{osti_6675349,
title = {A heat engine model of a reversible computation},
author = {Jablonski, D G},
abstractNote = {Using the tools of information theory and thermodynamics, reversible computation at the binary level is modeled as a heat engine operating in a Carnot cycle. The model defines an information-theoretic temperature for a binary system, and predicts that reversible computation can be accomplished without the dissipation of energy. However, in the worst case limit, kT log 2 joules of stored energy per operation per bit are required. Furthermore, T is not the ambient temperature, but the information-theoretic temperature, which for this case is infinite.},
doi = {10.1109/5.53401},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6675349}, journal = {Proceedings of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)},
issn = {0018-9219},
number = ,
volume = 78:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990},
month = {Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990}
}