Bremermann's limit

proper noun

The maximum computational speed of a self-contained system in the material universe, derived from Einstein's mass-energy equivalency and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle: it is approximately 1.36 × 10⁵⁰ bits per second per kilogram. This value is important in designing cryptographic algorithms that can never be cracked by brute force.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. The maximum computational speed of a self-contained system in the material universe, derived from Einstein's mass-energy equivalency and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle: it is approximately 1.36 × 10⁵⁰ bits per second per kilogram. This value is important in designing cryptographic algorithms that can never be cracked by brute force.

Origin

Named after Hans-Joachim Bremermann (1926–1996), German-American mathematician and biophysicist.

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Cite this entry
APA

Bremermann's limit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bremermann's%20limit

MLA

“Bremermann's limit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bremermann's%20limit. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Bremermann's limit,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bremermann's%20limit.

Source: Bremermann's limit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.