Brownian rectifiers in the presence of temporally asymmetric unbiased forces

TL;DR

This paper investigates how temporal asymmetry in forces can enhance energy transduction efficiency in ratchets, revealing conditions for high efficiency and current reversals through parameter tuning.

Contribution

It demonstrates that temporal asymmetry can significantly improve efficiency and induce current reversals in Brownian ratchets, with potential for optimization.

Findings

Efficiency up to ~50% achieved with temporal asymmetry.

Multiple current reversals observed through parameter tuning.

Spatial asymmetry and inhomogeneity can further enhance efficiency.

Abstract

The efficiency of energy transduction in a temporally asymmetric rocked ratchet is studied. Time asymmetry favours current in one direction and suppresses it in the opposite direction due to which large efficiency ~ 50% is readily obtained. The spatial asymmetry in the potential together with system inhomogeneity may help in further enhancing the efficiency. Fine tuning of system parameters considered leads to multiple current reversals even in the adiabatic regime.