5 research outputs found
Thermodynamics of Quantum Measurement and the Demon's Arrow of Time
We discuss the thermodynamic aspects of a single qubit based device, powered
by weak quantum measurements, and feedback controlled by a quantum Maxwell's
demon. We discuss both discrete and time-continuous operation of the
measurement based device at finite temperature of the reservoir. In the
discrete example where a demon acquires information via discrete weak
measurements, we find that the thermodynamic variables including the heat
exchanged, extractable work, and the entropy produced are completely determined
by an information theoretic measure of the demon's perceived arrow of time. We
also discuss a realistic time-continuous operation of the device where the
feedback is applied after a sequence of weak measurements. In the
time-continuous limit, we derive the exact finite-time statistics of work, heat
and entropy changes along individual quantum trajectories of the quantum
measurement process, and relate them to the demon's arrow of time.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
The organized hypocrisy of ethical foreign policy: human rights, democracy and Western arms sales
Over the past two decades, Western political leaders have scripted a more ethical foreign policy, wherein far greater weight is given to protecting the rights and freedoms of extra-territorial citizens. Using the example of arms exports to developing countries, the present paper exposes the organized hypocrisy underlying countries’ self-declared ethical turn. We show that the major Western arms supplying states – France, Germany, the UK and the US – have generally not exercised export controls so as to discriminate against human rights abusing or autocratic countries during the post-Cold War period. Rather, we uncover ongoing territorial egoism, in that arms have been exported to countries which serve supplying states’ domestic economic and security interests