The Quantum Version of Absolute Zero: Energy, Time, and Complexity
Theoretical Attainment of Absolute Zero: Energy, Time, and Complexity
The third law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to reach absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible, as it requires an infinite amount of energy. However, a recent study by researchers at TU Wien in Vienna proposes a “quantum version” of the third law, stating that absolute zero can be attained theoretically, but only with the presence of three ingredients: energy, time, and complexity.
The team discovered that cooling quantum particles to absolute zero, where their state is precisely known, is closely related to the erasure of information. Information theory states that a specific minimum amount of energy is required to delete one bit of information, while thermodynamics states that it takes an infinite amount of energy to cool anything down to absolute zero. This poses a contradiction, as deleting information and cooling to absolute zero are essentially the same thing from a quantum physics perspective.
The researchers found that it is possible to reach absolute zero with finite energy, but it would require an infinitely long time. However, they also discovered that specific quantum systems can be defined, allowing for the attainment of the absolute ground state even at finite energy and in finite time. These quantum systems, however, possess a crucial property of being infinitely complex, requiring infinitely precise control over infinitely many details of the quantum system.
In practical terms, attaining absolute zero with finite energy and time is just as unattainable as infinite energy or infinite time. Nonetheless, understanding the theoretical possibility of attaining absolute zero can have significant implications for the development of quantum technologies, where temperature plays a crucial role. The research shows how the interplay of thermodynamics and quantum physics is essential in developing a better understanding of the connection between the two crucial areas of physics.
Information Theory vs. Thermodynamics: The Landauer Principle and Cooling to Absolute Zero
The Landauer principle is a fundamental result in information theory that states that a minimum amount of energy is required to erase one bit of information. However, this principle seems to contradict thermodynamics, which suggests that it is impossible to cool any object exactly to absolute zero.
Quantum physics sheds light on the relationship between these two theories. When quantum particles reach absolute zero, their state is precisely known, and they no longer contain any information about their previous state. Cooling to absolute zero and deleting information are thus related from a quantum physics perspective.
Energy, Time, and Complexity
The third law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to cool any object exactly to absolute zero, and only an approach to it is possible. However, a research team at TU Wien has developed a “quantum version” of the third law of thermodynamics that shows that absolute zero is attainable in theory.
According to this quantum version, it is possible to reach absolute zero, but it requires three ingredients: energy, time, and complexity. Only if one of these ingredients is infinite can absolute zero be reached. For example, absolute zero can be reached with finite energy, but it would require an infinitely long time to achieve it.
The Landauer Principle and Absolute Zero
The Landauer principle states that a specific minimum amount of energy is required to delete one bit of information. However, thermodynamics suggests that an infinite amount of energy is needed to cool anything down to absolute zero. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the relationship between cooling to absolute zero and deleting information in quantum physics.
In quantum physics, the cooling to absolute zero and deleting information are related, as the state of the particles at absolute zero is precisely known and no longer contains information about their previous state. Therefore, it is possible to reach absolute zero with finite energy, but it would require an infinitely complex quantum system that can control an infinite number of particles. In practice, this is unattainable, but it has implications for the development of quantum technologies, where temperature plays a key role.
The Interplay of Thermodynamics and Quantum Physics: Understanding Individual Particles
Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that studies the relationships between energy, work, and heat. It was initially developed for classical objects such as steam engines, refrigerators, and other macroscopic systems. However, in the 20th century, quantum mechanics revolutionized the understanding of the microscopic world, and it became necessary to extend thermodynamics to individual particles. The challenge is that the laws of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics seem to contradict each other.
Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level, while thermodynamics deals with the properties of macroscopic objects. Quantum mechanics is probabilistic, while thermodynamics is deterministic. This discrepancy between the two theories created a paradox when it comes to cooling particles to absolute zero.
The third law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to reach absolute zero temperature. On the other hand, quantum mechanics predicts that a system can reach the absolute minimum energy state, which corresponds to absolute zero. To resolve this paradox, scientists had to investigate how thermodynamics and quantum mechanics interact.
The findings of Marcus Huber and his team suggest that it is possible to reach absolute zero theoretically, but it requires three ingredients: energy, time, and complexity. The scientists found that a quantum system could be defined that allows the absolute ground state to be reached even at finite energy and in finite time, but the system has to be infinitely complex. This means that you need to have infinitely precise control over infinitely many details of the quantum system. In practice, this is impossible.
The interplay between thermodynamics and quantum mechanics is an active area of research. Scientists are trying to understand how the laws of thermodynamics apply to the microscopic world and how to exploit quantum phenomena to improve thermodynamic processes. The ability to manipulate quantum states can lead to the development of more efficient and powerful technologies, such as quantum computers and engines. Understanding the interplay between thermodynamics and quantum mechanics is essential for the advancement of modern physics and technology.
Quantum Systems and the Reach of Absolute Ground State at Finite Energy and Time
The third law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to cool any object exactly to absolute zero, but only to approach it. However, a research team at TU Wien has developed a quantum version of the third law of thermodynamics that theoretically allows the attainment of absolute zero. To achieve this, three ingredients are needed: energy, time, and complexity. With an infinite amount of any of these ingredients, absolute zero can be reached.
The researchers found that quantum systems can be defined that allow the absolute ground state to be reached even at finite energy and in finite time, which was unexpected. However, these special quantum systems have an important property: they are infinitely complex. This means that you would need infinitely precise control over infinitely many details of the quantum system to cool it to absolute zero in finite time with finite energy.
While it may not be practically attainable, these findings are important for understanding the interplay between thermodynamics and quantum physics and for advancing the development of quantum technologies. Temperature plays a crucial role in practical applications of quantum technologies, and understanding how these two important parts of physics intertwine is a crucial step towards progress in this area.
Infinitely Complex Quantum Computers and Erasing Data in Quantum Computing
To perfectly erase quantum information in a quantum computer and transfer a qubit to a perfectly pure ground state, theoretically, an infinitely complex quantum computer that can perfectly control an infinite number of particles is required. In practice, however, perfection is not necessary. No machine is ever perfect. A quantum computer that does its job fairly well is enough.
This means that the new results are not an obstacle to the development of quantum computers. In practical applications of quantum technologies, temperature plays a crucial role. The higher the temperature, the easier it is for quantum states to break and become unusable for any technical use. Therefore, it is essential to better understand the connection between quantum theory and thermodynamics. With interesting progress in this area, it is slowly becoming possible to see how these two important parts of physics intertwine.
The Significance of Understanding the Connection between Quantum Theory and Thermodynamics
Understanding the connection between quantum theory and thermodynamics is becoming increasingly important in the development of quantum technologies. The temperature plays a crucial role in practical applications of quantum technologies, and higher temperatures make it easier for quantum states to break down and become unusable.
By better understanding the interplay of thermodynamics and quantum physics, researchers can develop new methods to cool quantum systems, which can lead to more efficient and effective quantum computing. Additionally, studying the connection between these two fields may lead to the discovery of new fundamental laws of nature and could have far-reaching implications for the fields of physics and engineering.
Overall, the significance of understanding the connection between quantum theory and thermodynamics lies in its potential to drive advancements in quantum technologies and deepen our understanding of the universe.
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Originally published at http://thetechsavvysociety.wordpress.com on April 5, 2023.
