Since the publication of Maxwell's Demon: Entropy, Information, Computing, Maxwell's demon has been the subject of renewed and increased interest by numerous researchers. Updated and expanded, Maxwell's Demon 2 retains many of the seminal papers that appeared in the first edition, including key articles by Leo Szilard, Leon Brillouin, Rolf Landauer, and Charles Bennett that led to new branches of research on the demon. This second edition contains newer articles relating to Landauer's principle, connections with quantum mechanics, algorithmic information, and the thermodynamics and limits of computation. Expanded information is also included in the bibliography.

Overview. Early History and Philosophical Considerations. Smoluchowski Trap Doors and Information Acquisition. Information Erasure: Landauer's Principle. Quantum Nuances. Algorithmic Information. Computation: Thermodynamics and Limits.