Memory Erasure using Time Multiplexed Potentials

We study the thermodynamics of a Brownian particle under the influence of a time multiplexed harmonic potential of finite width. The memory storage mechanism and the erasure protocol realized by time multiplexed potentials are utilized to experimentally realize erasure with work close to the Landauer's bound. We quantify the work done on the system with respect to the duty-ratio of time multiplexing, which also provides a handle to approach reversible erasures. A Langevin dynamics based simulation model is developed for the proposed memory bit and the erasure protocol, which guides the experimental realization. The study also provides insights into transport at the micro scale.