A Live Maxwell's Demon

Howard Hanley; Debra J. Searles

doi:10.48550/arXiv.1905.09091

A Live Maxwell's Demon

Howard Hanley, Debra J. Searles

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

A direct experimental replication of the Maxwell Demon thought experiment is outlined. The experiment determines the velocity/kinetic energy distribution of the particles in a sample by a novel interpretation of the results from a standard time-of-flight (TOF) small angle neutron scattering (SANS) procedure. Perspex at 293 K was subjected to neutrons at 82.2 K. The key result is a TOF velocity distribution curve that is a direct spatial and time-dependent microscopic probe of the velocity distribution of the Perspex nuclei at 293 K. Having this curve, one can follow the Demons approach by selecting neutrons at known kinetic energies. One example is given: namely, two reservoirs - hot and cold reservoirs - were generated from the 293 K source without disturbing its original 293 K energy distribution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5
Journal	arXiv (e-archive for Pre-prints, author submits)
Volume	1905.09091
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1905.09091
Publication status	Published - 2018

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title = "A Live Maxwell's Demon",

abstract = "A direct experimental replication of the Maxwell Demon thought experiment is outlined. The experiment determines the velocity/kinetic energy distribution of the particles in a sample by a novel interpretation of the results from a standard time-of-flight (TOF) small angle neutron scattering (SANS) procedure. Perspex at 293 K was subjected to neutrons at 82.2 K. The key result is a TOF velocity distribution curve that is a direct spatial and time-dependent microscopic probe of the velocity distribution of the Perspex nuclei at 293 K. Having this curve, one can follow the Demons approach by selecting neutrons at known kinetic energies. One example is given: namely, two reservoirs - hot and cold reservoirs - were generated from the 293 K source without disturbing its original 293 K energy distribution.",

author = "Howard Hanley and Searles, {Debra J.}",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.48550/arXiv.1905.09091",

language = "English",

volume = "1905.09091",

pages = "5",

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publisher = "Cornell University Press",

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T1 - A Live Maxwell's Demon

AU - Hanley, Howard

AU - Searles, Debra J.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - A direct experimental replication of the Maxwell Demon thought experiment is outlined. The experiment determines the velocity/kinetic energy distribution of the particles in a sample by a novel interpretation of the results from a standard time-of-flight (TOF) small angle neutron scattering (SANS) procedure. Perspex at 293 K was subjected to neutrons at 82.2 K. The key result is a TOF velocity distribution curve that is a direct spatial and time-dependent microscopic probe of the velocity distribution of the Perspex nuclei at 293 K. Having this curve, one can follow the Demons approach by selecting neutrons at known kinetic energies. One example is given: namely, two reservoirs - hot and cold reservoirs - were generated from the 293 K source without disturbing its original 293 K energy distribution.

AB - A direct experimental replication of the Maxwell Demon thought experiment is outlined. The experiment determines the velocity/kinetic energy distribution of the particles in a sample by a novel interpretation of the results from a standard time-of-flight (TOF) small angle neutron scattering (SANS) procedure. Perspex at 293 K was subjected to neutrons at 82.2 K. The key result is a TOF velocity distribution curve that is a direct spatial and time-dependent microscopic probe of the velocity distribution of the Perspex nuclei at 293 K. Having this curve, one can follow the Demons approach by selecting neutrons at known kinetic energies. One example is given: namely, two reservoirs - hot and cold reservoirs - were generated from the 293 K source without disturbing its original 293 K energy distribution.

U2 - 10.48550/arXiv.1905.09091

DO - 10.48550/arXiv.1905.09091

M3 - Article

VL - 1905.09091

SP - 5

JO - arXiv (e-archive for Pre-prints, author submits)

JF - arXiv (e-archive for Pre-prints, author submits)

ER -

A Live Maxwell's Demon

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