Thermodynamics of Computation  

  

Bennett '73

C. H. Bennett. "Logical reversibility of computation." IBM J. Res. Dev. 17(6):525-532, Nov. 1973.

A most excellent paper. Shows how to systematically convert any Turing machine into an equivalent 3-tape Turing machine that is logically reversible. Relevance to thermodynamic efficiency of computation: any computation, so transformed, can be made to cost, in principle, no more than kT ln 2 energy per bit of final stored output. Discussion of random-walk computation in physically reversible systems. Why logical reversibility is needed for this to work. DNA transcription as a thermodynamically efficient, reversible computation.

  

Toffoli '80

Tommaso Toffoli. "Reversible Computing." Massachusetts Institute of Technology Laboratory for Computer Science technical report MIT/LCS/TM-151, February 1980.

  

POC workshop

Proceedings of the workshop on the Physics of Computation held at MIT in 1981. International Journal for Theoretical Physics 21, April, June, and December 1982.

I don't have a copy of this yet.Actually, I do have some of the articles now.

  

Toffoli '82

Tommaso Toffoli. "Physics and Computation." In POC workshop, International Journal for Theoretical Physics 21(3/4):165-175, 1982.

  

Bennett '82

Charles H. Bennett. "The thermodynamics of computation--a review." Intl. J. Theoretical Physics 21(12):905-940, 1982.

  

Bennett & Landauer '85

Charles H. Bennett and Rolf Landauer. "The Fundamental Limits of Computation." Scientific American, July 1985, pp. 48-56.

  

Bennett '88

Charles Bennett. "Notes on the History of Reversible Computation." IBM J. of Research and Development 32(1):16--23, Jan. 1988.

I don't have a copy of this yet.

  

Schneider '91

Thomas D. Schneider. "Theory of Molecular Machines. I. Channel Capacity of Molecular Machines." J. theor. Biol. 148:83-123, 1991.

  

Schneider '91 a

Thomas D. Schneider. "Theory of Molecular Machines. II. Energy Dissipation from Molecular Machines." J. theor. Biol. 148:125-137, 1991.

  

Schneider '93

Thomas D. Schneider. "Sequence logos, machine/channel capacity, Maxwell's demon, and molecular computers: a review of the theory of molecular machines." Nanotechnology, 1993.