The Passive Rectifier: Informational Impedance and the Geometric Arrow of Time
Abstract
The irreversibility of time is typically attributed to the statistical laws of thermodynamics (entropy). In this note, we propose a complementary structural mechanism: Informational Rectification. Using the hydrodynamic Tesla Valve as a physical homomorph, we demonstrate how fixed geometric constraints can enforce directionality without moving parts or active control. We posit that the arrow of time is not a fundamental temporal force, but a consequence of the universe acting as a passive rectifier, where the informational cost of reversal scales superlinearly with system complexity. This framework unifies physical, thermodynamic, and logical irreversibility under a single impedance function, formalized by the residue relationship , R= αC^2. Crucially, this framework does not assert a new force or law of nature, but identifies a universal cost constraint that becomes visible whenever systems with finite resolution attempt reversal
Fields of Study & Subjects
Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Complex Systems and Dynamics
Cellular Automata and Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 17 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint