Axiomatic Information Thermodynamics

Ben Schumacher ( Kenyon College )

A new axiomatic framework for thermodynamics is presented, one that incorporates information concepts in a fundamental way. The new theory describes ordinary thermodynamic processes as well as systems (like Maxwell's demon) that acquire, use and erase information. Both thermodynamic and information entropy measures, and their physical connection, emerge naturally from the axioms. One remarkable result is that, even though the underlying logical basis for the theory is not probabilistic, a natural and unique probability measure arises from the entropy.