Could Maxwell's Demon Exist in Nanoscale Systems?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 11:35
in Physics & Chemistry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Maxwell`s demon may be making a comeback. Physicists know that the demon, an imaginary creature that decreases the entropy of a system, cannot exist in macroscopic systems due to the energy it requires to perform its role. However, a recent study has shown that, on the nanoscale, Maxwell`s demon might be able to do its work with much less energy than previously thought due to tiny thermal fluctuations that occur in small systems.