Thermodynamics of Gambling Demons

We introduce and realize demons that follow a customary gambling strategy to stop a nonequilibrium process at stochastic times. We derive second-law-like inequalities for the average work done in the presence of gambling, and universal stopping-time fluctuation relations for classical and quantum nonstationary stochastic processes. We test experimentally our results in a single-electron box, where an electrostatic potential drives the dynamics of individual electrons tunneling into a metallic island. We also discuss the role of coherence in gambling demons measuring quantum jump trajectories.

Automated summary

The research team introduces and implements demons that follow a customary gambling strategy to halt nonequilibrium processes at stochastic times. They derive second-law-like inequalities for average work done in the presence of gambling, and universal stopping-time fluctuation relations for classical and quantum nonstationary stochastic processes. Experimental verification of their results in a single-electron box is conducted, along with a discussion on the role of coherence in gambling demons measuring quantum jump trajectories.