Thermodynamics of Knowing: Hamiltonian Engineering of a Driven-Dissipative Epistemic Engine

This paper re-frames the physical basis of knowledge as a non-equilibrium thermodynamic process. We reject equilibrium models and identify the “Epistemic Cut” as a dissipative phase transition in a driven open quantum system, specifically the Dicke Model. Through mean-field simulations, we demonstrate that a stable, information-bearing state (a symbol) is a non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) that requires a continuous energy flux to maintain against environmental decoherence. We quantify the thermodynamic cost of “knowing” not as a one-time energy investment, but as a continuous power requirement measured by the Entropy Production Rate (EPR). This analysis reveals that collective bosonic effects provide a thermodynamically superior architecture, enabling robust, room-temperature operation by out-scaling local noise. Finally, we introduce the concept of Semiotic Closure as a necessary condition to complete the cut, linking the physical NESS to its functional role as a symbol. This work culminates in a blueprint for a driven-dissipative Knowledge Processing Unit (KPU), providing a physically rigorous and thermodynamically honest pathway for next-generation computing.