On the Relation Between Information and Energy Systems A Family of Maxwell's Demons

Abstract

Maxwell's Demon uses information to save free energy. However, as Brillouin has shown, the energy required by the demon in acquiring information just equals the energy he saves. Modern microprocessor controls on internal combustion engines are macroscopic Maxwell demons. They increase engine efficiency by continuously optimizing operating parameters. The market system is a social Maxwell demon; by sending price signal to the consumer, it causes him to use energy more efficiently. As the scale of the demon increases, so does the ratio of energy saved to energy used by the demon. The amount of energy that can be saved by intervention of intelligence is further limited by the time available for the intervention. Time, energy and information thus form a triad, a was first pointed out by D. Spreng.