Michael Devereux

Los Alamos Economic Development Corporation, 127 Eastgate Dr., Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA.
(505) 455-2934, E-mail: [email protected]

Received: 1 July 2003 / Accepted: 23 December 2003 / Published: 23 March 2004

Abstract: Using an isolated measurement process, I've calculated the effect measurement has on entropy for the multi-cylinder Szilard engine. This calculation shows that the system of cylinders possesses an entropy associated with cylinder total energy states, and that it records information transferred at measurement. Contrary to other's results, I've found that the apparatus loses entropy due to measurement. The Second Law of Thermodynamics may be preserved if Maxwell's demon gains entropy moving the engine partition.

Keywords: Szilard's engine; Maxwell's demon; quantum measurement; information theory.

PACS codes: 05.70.-a, 05.20.-y, 03.65.Bz