title: Feynman's ratchet and pawl: an exactly solvable model.
abstract: We introduce a simple, discrete model of Feynman's ratchet and pawl, operating between two heat reservoirs. We solve exactly for the steady-state directed motion and heat flows produced, first in the absence and then in the presence of an external load. We show that the model can act both as a heat engine and as a refrigerator. We finally investigate the behavior of the system near equilibrium, and use our model to confirm general predictions based on linear-response theory.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA. chrisj@lanl.gov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jarzynski
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mazonka