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Information is a physical entity

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  • Landauer, Rolf

Abstract

This paper, associated with a broader conference talk on the fundamental physical limits of information handling, emphasizes the aspects still least appreciated. Information is not an abstract entity but exists only through a physical representation, thus tying it to all the restrictions and possibilities of our real physical universe. The mathematician's vision of an unlimited sequence of totally reliable operations is unlikely to be implementable in this real universe. Speculative remarks about the possible impact of that, on the ultimate nature of the laws of physics are included.

Suggested Citation

  • Landauer, Rolf, 1999. "Information is a physical entity," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 263(1), pages 63-67.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:263:y:1999:i:1:p:63-67
    DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(98)00513-5
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    Cited by:

    1. de Castro, Alexandre, 2014. "One-way-ness in the input-saving (Turing) machine," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 415(C), pages 473-478.
    2. Steve J. Bickley & Ho Fai Chan & Sascha L. Schmidt & Benno Torgler, 2020. "Quantum-Sapiens: The Quantum Bases for Human Expertise, Knowledge, and Problem-Solving," CREMA Working Paper Series 2020-18, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    3. Steve J. Bickley & Ho Fai Chan & Sascha L. Schmidt & Benno Torgler, 2021. "Quantum-Sapiens: The Quantum Bases for Human Expertise, Knowledge, and Problem-Solving (Extended Version with Applications)," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-14, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).

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