A real signal and its states

The paper describes the general physical theory of signals, carriers of information, which supplements Shannon’s abstract classical theory and is applicable in much broader fields, including nuclear physics. It is shown that in the absence of classical noise its place should be taken by the physical threshold of signal perception for objects of both macrocosm and microcosm. The signal perception threshold allows the presence of subthreshold (virtual) signal states. For these states, Boolean algebra of logic ( A = 0/1) is transformed into the “algebraic logic” of probabilities (0 ≤ a ≤ 1). The similarity and difference of virtual states of macroand microsignals are elucidated. “Real” and “quantum” information for computers is considered briefly. The maximum information transmission rate is estimated based on physical constants.