Realization of Maxwell's Hypothesis

Abstract

Two similar and parallel Ag-O-Cs surfaces in a vacuum tube ceaselessly eject electrons at room temperature. A static magnetic field applied to the tube plays the role of 'Maxwell's demon'. The thermal electrons are so controlled by the magnetic field that they can travel only from one Ag-O-Cs surface to the other, resulting in collections of positive and negative charge on the two surfaces, respectively, as well as an electric potential between the two surfaces. A load, a resistance outside of the tube for example, is connected by wires to the two surfaces, continuously receiving electric power from the tube. The ambient air is a single heat reservoir in this situation, and all of the heat extracted by the tube from the air is converted to electric energy, without producing any other effect. The authors believe that the experiment is in contradiction to Kelvin's statement, and that the famous hypothesis proposed by Maxwell about 140 years ago is realized.