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Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information: Volume II
Part of the SFI Press’s Archive series, making affordable editions of past Santa Fe Institute publications globally available, Complexity, Entropy, and the Physics of Information emerged from a 1989 SFI meeting of the same name organized by editor Wojciech H. Zurek. This two-volume reprint not only explores the connections between quantum and classical physics, information and its transfer, computation, and their significance for the formulation of physical theories, but also considers the origins and evolution of information-processing entitles, their complexity, and the manner in which they analyzed their perceptions to form models of the universe. Information, physics, complexity, quantum, and computation all meet in these 16 essays from contributors such as Murray Gell-Mann, James B. Hartle, Tommaso Toffoli, and L. A. Khalfin.
416 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2023
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October 25, 2023
Information Theory is the mathematical study of information. It concerns the surprise inherent in a message. That measure is called the entropy. If you are reading this message, you benefit from Information Theory.
After Claude Shannon developed Information Theory, it appeared to be a solution in search of a problem. Shannon's seminal 1948 paper unleashed a deluge of half-baked works on everything from anthropology to literature.
Initially, Shannon wrote A Mathematical Theory of Communication to address specific problems in communications and data transmission. For example, what is the most efficient way to transmit a message? What is the maximum limit of a communications channel? It was well-received by engineers, scientists, and mathematicians working in the field.
In 1989, there was a workshop in Santa Fe. It was well-attended, considering the state of the field, and ran for three days. The book is a procedural on the event. It is the second volume of a two-volume set.
The book contains quantum mechanical equations, which may limit who reads the book. Furthermore, one of the essays has a section titled "How To Beat The Second Law of Thermodynamics." However, they only postulate some impossibilities that would need to happen to accomplish that. For example, one necessity is the ability to distinguish between non-orthogonal states. The essay in question is titled "Thermodynamic Constraints on Quantum Axioms" by Asher Peres from the Israel Institute of Technology.
I enjoyed the book, but as with the first volume, I found it challenging to comprehend. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
After Claude Shannon developed Information Theory, it appeared to be a solution in search of a problem. Shannon's seminal 1948 paper unleashed a deluge of half-baked works on everything from anthropology to literature.
Initially, Shannon wrote A Mathematical Theory of Communication to address specific problems in communications and data transmission. For example, what is the most efficient way to transmit a message? What is the maximum limit of a communications channel? It was well-received by engineers, scientists, and mathematicians working in the field.
In 1989, there was a workshop in Santa Fe. It was well-attended, considering the state of the field, and ran for three days. The book is a procedural on the event. It is the second volume of a two-volume set.
The book contains quantum mechanical equations, which may limit who reads the book. Furthermore, one of the essays has a section titled "How To Beat The Second Law of Thermodynamics." However, they only postulate some impossibilities that would need to happen to accomplish that. For example, one necessity is the ability to distinguish between non-orthogonal states. The essay in question is titled "Thermodynamic Constraints on Quantum Axioms" by Asher Peres from the Israel Institute of Technology.
I enjoyed the book, but as with the first volume, I found it challenging to comprehend. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review