All the free energy in the universe

[Jim choate]

> 
> The above analysis may be incorrect... there may be no limit to the amount
> of computation that can be done with a given finite amount of energy.
> 
> The late Nobel laureate Richard Feynman became very interested in the
> subject of computation and physics towards the end of his life.  My
> understanding is that he concluded that there was no apparent limitation to
> the amount of computation that could be completed with a given amount of
> free energy.  Computation may indeed always dissipate energy, but Feyman's
> conclusion was that this dissipated energy can be made arbitrarily small --
> that there is no fundamental quantum limitation on the amount of
> computation that can be performed at any given mass-energy scale.  The kT
> per logical operation can always be reduced to finer and finer scales.
> Presumably, this would require advances to ever new technologies, based on
> new physical forces that are relevant at finer scales (down to computation
> based on the interactions of quarks as in QCD, gravitons, etc.)  Of course,
> since I can't give you references, you have to take this with a brick of
> salt... can anyone else comment on whether they have heard this about
> Feynman's conclusions?
> 
Hi Doug,

If you will check in the cumulative index for SciAm you will find several
articles on this  topic (which include references to headier stuff).

Take care.