Characterizing autonomous Maxwell demons

Abstract

We distinguish traditional implementations of autonomous Maxwell demons from related linear devices that were recently proposed, not relying on the notions of measurements and feedback control. In both cases a current seems to flow against its spontaneous direction (imposed e.g. by a thermal or electric gradient) without external energy intake. However, in the latter case, this current inversion may only be apparent. Even if the currents exchanged between a system and its reservoirs are inverted (by creating additional independent currents between system and demon), this is not enough to conclude that the original current through the system has been inverted. We show that this distinction can be revealed locally by measuring the fluctuations of the system-reservoirs currents.