Minimal model of a heat engine: Information theory approach

Abstract

We construct a generic model for a heat engine using information theory concepts, attributing irreversible energy dissipation to the information transmission channels. Using several forms for the channel capacity, classical and quantum, we demonstrate that our model recovers both the Carnot principle in the reversible limit, and the universal maximum power efficiency expression of nonreversible thermodynamics in the linear response regime. We expect the model to be very useful as a testbed for studying fundamental topics in thermodynamics, and for providing new insights into the relationship between information theory and actual thermal devices.