The Quantum Version of Absolute Zero: Energy, Time, and Complexity
Theoretical Attainment of Absolute Zero: Energy, Time, and Complexity The third law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to reach absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible, as it requires an infinite amount of energy. However, a recent study by researchers at TU Wien in Vienna proposes a "quantum version" of the third law, stating that absolute zero can be attained theoretically, but only with the presence of three ingredients: energy, time, and complexity. The team discovered that cooling quantum particles to absolute zero, where their state is precisely known, is closely related to the erasure of information. Information theory states that a specific minimum amount of energy is required to delete one bit of information, while thermodynamics states that it takes an infinite amount of energy to cool anything down to absolute zero. This poses a contradiction, as deleting information and cooling to absolute zero are essentially the same thing fr...