Information Theory and Its Use to Analytical Chemistry.

摘要

Informing power is a simple but powerful application of information theory in analytical chemistry. As a figure of merit informing power is useful in comparing and analysing systems and instruments. It provides a basis for a rational teaching program for both the development of modern analysis and for instrumental principles. Information theory can be extended very easily to treat the problem of the energy necessary to transmit data or bits of information and, therefore, the efficiency of informing machines. The problems of the effect of noise on data transmission and the physical limitations of data in various modules of analytical systems are also within the reality of information theory, in particular, the capacity concept. Similarly, the problems of preinfromation (if for example, you have zinc in a sample, there is an increased probability that cadmium is also present) and joint information (the presence of one spectral line of an element means there is an increased probability that the other spectral lines of the element are also present) can be treated with information theory. These finer points of the theory will have to await more widespread recognition of the value of the theory. Chemists, already trained, have acquired the experience necessary to perform their tasks. The need for a theory to formalize and systematize their 'gut feelings' and hunches is not at all obvious. However, a researcher in an allied field, not necessarily familiar with the intricacies of analysis would find that such a formalization and the algorithms developed with it would be valuable.