Feedback control in a collective flashing ratchet.

An ensemble of Brownian particles in a feedback controlled flashing ratchet is studied. The ratchet potential is switched on and off depending on the position of the particles, with the aim of maximizing the current. We study in detail a protocol which maximizes the instant velocity of the center of mass of the ensemble at any time. This protocol is optimal for one particle and performs better than any periodic flashing for ensembles of moderate size, but is defeated by a random or periodic switching for large ensembles.

[1]  A. Ajdari,et al.  Directional motion of brownian particles induced by a periodic asymmetric potential , 1994, Nature.

[2]  J.M.R. Parrondo,et al.  Efficiency of Brownian motors , 1998 .

[3]  Heiner Linke,et al.  Ratches and Brownian motors: Basics, experiments and applications , 2002 .

[4]  R. Feynman,et al.  The Feynman Lectures on Physics Addison-Wesley Reading , 1963 .

[5]  P. Reimann,et al.  Non-cooperative Brownian donkeys: A solvable 1D model , 2003 .

[6]  R. Leighton,et al.  Feynman Lectures on Physics , 1971 .

[7]  L. Dinis,et al.  Optimal strategies in collective Parrondo games , 2002, cond-mat/0212358.

[8]  P. Reimann.  Brownian motors: noisy transport far from equilibrium , 2000, cond-mat/0010237.

[9]  Coupled Brownian motors: Anomalous hysteresis and zero-bias negative conductance , 1999 .

[10]  Andrew G. Glen,et al.  APPL , 2001 .

[11]  杉江 昇,et al.  J.H. Milsum: Biological Control Systems Analysis, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1966, 466頁, 15×23cm, 7,000円. , 1967 .

[12]  Touchette,et al.  Information-theoretic limits of control , 1999, Physical review letters.

[13]  Seth Lloyd,et al.  Information-theoretic approach to the study of control systems , 2001, physics/0104007.

[14]  Prost,et al.  Cooperative molecular motors. , 1995, Physical review letters.

[15]  Hiroaki Kitano,et al.  Foundations of systems biology , 2001 .

[16]  P. Serwer.  Models of bacteriophage DNA packaging motors. , 2003, Journal of structural biology.

[17]  Bier,et al.  Fluctuation driven ratchets: Molecular motors. , 1994, Physical review letters.

[18]  J. Parrondo,et al.  Energetics of Brownian motors: a review , 2002 .

[19]  Richard M. Swanson,et al.  Applied Physics , 1936, Nature.