Vienna Technical University scientists have developed a quantum version of the third law of thermodynamics, showing that it is theoretically possible to achieve absolute zero. Absolute zero is −273.15 degrees Celsius, but it is impossible to cool an object exactly to this temperature, according to the third law. If there is an infinite number of energy, time and complexity elements, absolute zero can be reached.
Particles that reach absolute zero have a known state of minimum entropy and contain the minimum amount of energy, with no information stored about their previous state. Cooling particles is related to the removal of information, so the theory of information and thermodynamics can be seen as contrary to one another. Researchers discovered that it is possible to achieve absolute zero with a finite amount of energy, but the time required would be infinite. Professor Marcus Hubert notes that such a solution to the problem still does not look achievable. Previous thermodynamic concepts were formulated before the discovery of quantum theory, so researchers analysed how the two concepts interact.