Applications of Brownian motors

Heiner Linke

doi:10.1117/12.496980

7 May 2003 Applications of Brownian motors

Heiner Linke

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Proceedings Volume 5114, Noise in Complex Systems and Stochastic Dynamics; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.496980
Event: SPIE's First International Symposium on Fluctuations and Noise, 2003, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Abstract

Brownian motors combine asymmetry (such as a “ratchet” potential) and stochastic (thermal) motion with non-equilibrium processes to generate directed particle flow. A brief general introduction to Brownian motors is given, and the relevance of the ratchet model for biological motor proteins is highlighted. However, the impact of research on Brownian motors goes far beyond biophysics. A wealth of novel phenomena has been predicted, and some of these phenomena have been observed in areas as diverse as synthetic chemistry, bio-molecular colloids, self-organizing systems, quantum electronics, micro-fluidics, and materials science. Applications, such as novel actuators and molecular separation techniques, are evolving quickly. In the oral presentation, I will attempt to give an overview on applications of ratchets and Brownian motors. In the present paper, I give a short overview and review then a recent experimental realization of a tunneling ratchet for electrons. Such electron tunnelling ratchets can not only be used to generate particle currents, but also to pump heat. Using a realistic model, the heat pumping properties of the experimental electron ratchet are analysed.

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Heiner Linke "Applications of Brownian motors", Proc. SPIE 5114, Noise in Complex Systems and Stochastic Dynamics, (7 May 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.496980

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KEYWORDS

Electrons

Particles

Stochastic processes

Molecules

Physics

Motion models

Acquisition tracking and pointing

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