2005/05/31 by L. Dinis, Luis Dinís, J. M. R. Parrondo +3 · 2 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #cond-mat.stat-mech #stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
paper · pdf · doi:10.1209/epl/i2005-10116-1
published as Europhys. Lett. 71 536-541 (2005) · 4 pages, 4 figures
openalex publication_date 2005/07/12 · arxiv created 2007/09/19 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
We show how to switch on and off the ratchet potential of a collective Brownian motor, depending only on the position of the particles, in order to attain a current higher than or at least equal to that induced by any periodic flashing. Maximization of instant velocity turns out to be the optimal protocol for one particle but is nevertheless defeated by a periodic switching when a sufficiently large ensemble of particles is considered. The protocol presented in this letter, although not the optimal one, yields approximately the same current as the optimal protocol for one particle and as the optimal periodic switching for an infinite number of them.