Efficiency optimization in a correlation ratchet with asymmetric unbiased fluctuations.
The efficiency of a Brownian particle moving in a periodic potential in the presence of asymmetric unbiased fluctuations is investigated. We found that even on the quasistatic limit there is a regime where the efficiency can be a peaked function of temperature, which proves that thermal fluctuations facilitate the efficiency of energy transformation, contradicting the earlier findings [H. Kamegawa et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5251 (1998)]. It is also found that the mutual interplay between temporal asymmetry and spatial asymmetry may induce optimized efficiency at finite temperatures. The ratchet is not most efficient when it gives maximum current.
Ai
Bao-Quan
BQ
Department of Physics, ZhongShan University, GuangZhou, China.
Wang
Xian-Ju
XJ
Liu
Guo-Tao
GT
Wen
De-Hua
DH
Xie
Hui-Zhang
HZ
Chen
Wei
W
Liu
Liang-Gang
LG