Proposed Experimental Methods to Demonstrate Vopson’s Theories

Method 1: Mass Change Measurement with High-Precision Gravimetry

• Description:
  Vopson’s M/E/I principle predicts that information has a mass associated with it, calculable as $m_{\text{bit}}=(k_{B}T\ln 2)\mathrm{/}{c}^2$, where a temperature change $\Delta T$ induces a detectable mass change $\Delta m_{\text{inf}}$ in a material. This method involves measuring the mass change of a 1 kg copper (Cu) sample (as proposed in the article) before and after a controlled temperature change of 100 K, using advanced gravimetric techniques.
• Procedure:
  • Prepare a 1 kg copper sample (atomic mass 63.55 g, with 29 electrons, 29 protons, and 34.5 neutrons per atom, accounting for isotopic distribution).
  • Use a high-precision gravimeter (e.g., a next-generation superconducting gravimeter with resolution ~10⁻¹² kg) to measure the initial mass at 20°C.
  • Cool or heat the sample by 100 K (e.g., to -80°C or 120°C) using a calibrated temperature chamber, and measure the mass change.
  • Expected $\mathrm{\Delta }{m}_{\text{inf}}=3.33\times 10^{-11}\text{kg }$(per Vopson’s equation), corresponding to the information mass change of $N_b=$ bits.
• Validation:
  • Correlates with M/E/I by confirming the temperature-dependent mass change, supporting the fifth state of matter hypothesis.
• Feasibility: Achievable with current advancements in gravimetric technology (e.g., quantum gravimeters), though requiring extreme precision and environmental control.

Method 2: Electron–Positron Annihilation with Enhanced IR Detection

• Description:
  This method builds on Vopson’s proposed experiment, focusing on detecting the two low-energy infrared (IR) photons (~50 µm wavelength at room temperature) predicted from the erasure of 1.509 bits of information per electron during annihilation, alongside the standard 511 keV gamma photons.
• Procedure:
  • Use a 22Na radioactive source to generate positrons, moderated with a 1–2 µm single-crystal tungsten foil (work function ~3 eV) to produce slow positrons.
  • Direct the positrons to a thin aluminum film (5–10 nm) target, ensuring minimal attenuation of IR photons.
  • Employ synchronized high-sensitivity IR detectors (e.g., mercury cadmium telluride, MCT, with sub-micron resolution) and gamma detectors (e.g., high-purity germanium, HPGe) to capture the 511 keV photons and the predicted ~50 µm IR photons simultaneously.
  • Vary the temperature (e.g., 20°C to 100°C) to observe the wavelength shift, predicted by $\lambda =hc\mathrm{/}(I{k}_{B}T\ln 2)$, confirming the temperature dependence.
• Validation:
  • Correlates with both M/E/I (information mass dissipation) and the information content conjecture (1.509 bits), validating the fifth state hypothesis.
• Feasibility: Highly achievable with existing positron sources and detector technologies, though requiring optimization of the aluminum thickness to balance positron absorption and photon transmission.

Method 3: Information Erasure in Quantum Dot Systems

• Description:
  This method tests the M/E/I principle by measuring energy dissipation during the controlled erasure of information in a quantum dot system, where the information content can be manipulated at the nanoscale, offering a controlled environment to observe Landauer’s principle in action.
• Procedure:
  • Fabricate a quantum dot array (e.g., indium arsenide, InAs, with 10 nm diameter) capable of storing 1–2 bits of information via charge states (0 or 1).
  • Use a cryogenic setup (e.g., 4 K) to minimize thermal noise, and apply a controlled reset pulse to erase the information state, converting it to heat dissipation.
  • Measure the energy release with a high-precision calorimeter (resolution ~10⁻²¹ J) and compare it to the predicted Landauer limit ($k_{B}T\ln 2\approx 2.87\times \text{10⁻²¹\hspace{0.17em}}\text{J}$ at 4 K).
  • Repeat with varying temperatures (4 K to 300 K) to confirm the temperature-dependent mass-energy relationship.
• Validation:
  • Correlates with the fifth state hypothesis by demonstrating that information erasure produces measurable physical effects, supporting the information content conjecture.
• Feasibility: Feasible with state-of-the-art quantum dot technology and cryogenic systems, though requiring advanced instrumentation and expertise in nanotechnology.