biostudies-literatureUnknown109(29)Mandal DWe describe a minimal model of an autonomous Maxwell demon, a device that delivers work by rectifying thermal fluctuations while simultaneously writing information to a memory register. We solve exactly for the steady-state behavior of our model, and we construct its phase diagram. We find that our device can also act as a "Landauer eraser", using externally supplied work to remove information from the memory register. By exposing an explicit, transparent mechanism of operation, our model offers a simple paradigm for investigating the thermodynamics of information processing by small systems.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America11641-5https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3406850biostudies-literatureWork and information processing in a solvable model of Maxwell's demon.PMC3406850Mandal DJarzynski CfalseWork and information processing in a solvable model of Maxwell's demon.We describe a minimal model of an autonomous Maxwell demon, a device that delivers work by rectifying thermal fluctuations while simultaneously writing information to a memory register. We solve exactly for the steady-state behavior of our model, and we construct its phase diagram. We find that our device can also act as a "Landauer eraser", using externally supplied work to remove information from the memory register. By exposing an explicit, transparent mechanism of operation, our model offers a simple paradigm for investigating the thermodynamics of information processing by small systems.2012-01-01T00:00:00Z2012 Jul2025-04-19T02:53:28.434Z2019-03-27T00:56:03ZS-EPMC34068502275351510.1073/pnas.1204263109