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A Solid-State Maxwell Demon

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Abstract

A laboratory-testable, solid-state Maxwell demon is proposed that utilizes the electric field energy of an open-gap p-n junction. Numerical results from a commercial semiconductor device simulator (Silvaco International–Atlas) verify primary results from a 1-D analytic model. Present day fabrication techniques appear adequate for laboratory tests of principle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, 92110

    D. P. Sheehan & A. R. Putnam

  2. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, 92110

    J. H. Wright

Authors
  1. D. P. Sheehan
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  2. A. R. Putnam
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  3. J. H. Wright
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Sheehan, D.P., Putnam, A.R. & Wright, J.H. A Solid-State Maxwell Demon. Foundations of Physics 32, 1557–1595 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020479302947

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