Thermal Noise Can Facilitate Energy Conversion by Ratchet System?

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that thermal noise can assist energy conversion in ratchet systems, using stochastic energetics to identify conditions where ambient fluctuations aid molecular motor function.

Contribution

It provides the first analysis showing thermal noise can facilitate energy conversion in ratchet systems through stochastic energetics.

Findings

Thermal noise can enhance energy conversion efficiency.

Certain ratchet systems benefit from ambient fluctuations.

Thermal noise's role depends on system parameters.

Abstract

Molecular motors in biological systems are expected to use ambient fluctuation. In a recent Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 80}, 5251 (1998)], it was showed that the following question was unsolved, ``Can thermal noise facilitate energy conversion by ratchet system?'' We consider it using stochastic energetics, and show that there exist systems where thermal noise helps the energy conversion.