Onsager coefficients of a Brownian Carnot cycle

We study a Brownian Carnot cycle introduced by Schmiedl and Seifert [Europhys. Lett. 81, 20003 (2008)] from a viewpoint of the linear irreversible thermodynamics. By considering the entropy production rate of this cycle, we can determine thermodynamic forces and fluxes of the cycle and calculate the Onsager coefficients for general protocols, that is, arbitrary schedules to change the potential confining the Brownian particle. We show that these Onsager coefficients contain the information of the protocol shape and they satisfy the tight-coupling condition irrespective of whatever protocol shape we choose. These properties may give an explanation why the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency often appears in the finite-time heat engines.     

周期性双势垒锯齿势中温差驱动的布朗热机

研究了周期性双势垒锯齿势中, 布朗粒子在外力作用下沿空间坐标方向交替地和高、低温热库接触构成的布朗热机的热力学性能. 考虑布朗粒子动能的变化以及高、 低温库之间热漏的存在, 通过数值计算分析势垒高度、势比、外力等参数对布朗热机效率的影响. 研究表明：当考虑热漏时, 布朗热机始终是不可逆的, 效率小于卡诺效率; 并且当热漏很小时, 势比的增大在一定程度上可提高布朗热机的效率; 其功率与效率之间的关系曲线为闭合线. 当不考虑热漏时, 其功率与效率之间的关系曲线为开型线, 但由于布朗粒子动能的变化引起的不可逆热流, 热机的效率依然小于卡诺效率. 关键词： 布朗热机 双势垒锯齿势 热漏 热力学性能     

Performance characteristics of Brownian motors

Brownian motors are nonequilibrium systems that rectify thermal fluctuations to achieve directed motion, using spatial or temporal asymmetry. We provide a tutorial introduction to this basic concept using the well-known example of a flashing ratchet, discussing the micro- to nanoscopic scale on which such motors can operate. Because of the crucial role of thermal noise, the characterization of the performance of Brownian motors must include their fluctuations, and we review suitable performance measures for motor coherency and efficiency. Specifically, we highlight that it is possible to determine the energy efficiency of Brownian motors by measuring their velocity fluctuations, without detailed knowledge of the motor function and its energy input. Finally, we exemplify these concepts using a model for an artificial single-molecule motor with internal degrees of freedom.     

Brownian refrigerator

Onsager symmetry implies that a Brownian motor, driven by a temperature gradient, will also perform a refrigerator function upon loading. We analytically calculate the corresponding heat flow for an exactly solvable microscopic model and compare it with molecular dynamics simulations.     

A simplified tether model for molecular motor transporting cargo

Molecular motors are proteins or protein complexes which function as transporting engines in biological cells. This paper models the tether between motor and its cargo as a symmetric linear potential. Different from Elston and Peskin's work for which performance of the system was discussed only in some limiting cases, this study produces analytic solutions of the problem for general cases by simplifying the transport system into two physical states, which makes it possible to discuss the dynamics of the motor--cargo system in detail. It turns out that the tether strength between motor and cargo should be greater than a threshold or the motor will fail to transport the cargo, which was not discussed by former researchers yet. Value of the threshold depends on the diffusion coefficients of cargo and motor and also on the strength of the Brownian ratchets dragging the system. The threshold approaches a finite constant when the strength of the ratchet tends to infinity.     

以广义Redlich-Kwong气体为工质的不可逆回热式斯特林热机循环输出功率和效率

研究了热阻、回热损失和热漏等多种不可逆因素对以广义Redlich-Kwong气体为工质的斯特林热机性能的影响,给出了斯特林热机输出功率和效率的具体表达式并分析非理想回热特性及循环主要性能参数(如循环体积比及工质高低温比等)对循环输出功率和效率的影响.同时指出,只有在理想回热及无热漏的情况下,气体斯特林热机的效率才能达到卡诺效率.     

温库边界对布朗热机性能的影响

研究了单势垒锯齿势中,布朗粒子在外力和空间周期温度场作用下构成的布朗热机的热力学性能.考虑布朗粒子动能变化以及高、低温库之间热漏引起的热流.用Smoluchowski方程描述粒子在黏性介质中的动力学特性,推导出高、低温库的热流以及热机功率和效率的解析表达式.通过数值计算分析势垒高度、外力和温库边界对热机性能的影响.研究表明:由于动能变化和热漏引起的不可逆热流的存在,布朗热机为不可逆热机,热机的功率效率特性为一闭合的关系曲线;势垒边界与温库边界重合时,热机的功率达到最大值;通过改变温库边界的位置,可以在一定范围内提高热机的效率,但同时减小了热机的输出功率.     

带反馈的分数阶耦合布朗马达的定向输运

研究具有幂律记忆性的带反馈耦合布朗马达的定向输运现象, 引入分数阶理论, 建立了带反馈的分数阶耦合布朗马达模型, 利用分数阶差分法求得模型数值解并分析了模型参数对合作定向输运性质的影响. 仿真结果表明, 系统的记忆性通过影响带反馈的棘齿势的打开和闭合而影响粒子的定向输运, 即当系统的阶数在较小的范围内, 系统的记忆性会使带反馈的棘齿势的开关频率增加, 从而增大定向流速; 当系统其他参数(势垒高度、噪声强度等)固定时, 输运速度随着阶数的变化出现广义随机共振现象.     

Brownian motors in the low-energy approximation: Classification and properties

We classify Brownian motors based on the expansion of their velocity in terms of the reciprocal friction coefficient. The two main classes of motors (with dichotomic fluctuations in homogeneous force and periodic potential energy) are characterized by different analytical dependences of their mean velocity on the spatial and temporal asymmetry coefficients and by different adiabatic limits. The competition between the spatial and temporal asymmetries gives rise to stopping points. The transition through these points can be achieved by varying the asymmetry coefficients, temperature, and other motor parameters, which can be used, for example, for nanoparticle segregation. The proposed classification separates out a new type of motors based on synchronous fluctuations in symmetric potential and applied homogeneous force. As an example of this type of motors, we consider a near-surface motor whose two-dimensional motion (parallel and perpendicular to the substrate plane) results from fluctuations in external force inclined to the surface.     

Nonequilibrium fluctuations and mechanochemical couplings of a molecular motor

We investigate theoretically the violations of Einstein and Onsager relations and the thermodynamic efficiency for a single processive motor operating far from equilibrium using an extension of the two-state model introduced by Kafri et al. [Biophys. J. 86, 3373 (2004)10.1529/biophysj.103.036152]. With the aid of the Fluctuation Theorem, we analyze the general features of these violations and this efficiency and link them to mechanochemical couplings of motors. In particular, an analysis of the experimental data of kinesin using our framework leads to interesting predictions that may serve as a guide for future experiments.     

分数阶布朗马达在闪烁棘齿势中的合作输运现象

引入分数阶微积分理论,建立耦合分数阶布朗马达在闪烁棘齿势中的合作输运模型, 利用分数阶差分法求得模型数值解并分析了模型参数对合作定向输运性质的影响. 发现在具有记忆性的分数阶棘齿系统中, 系统阶数与粒子间耦合强度不仅可影响粒子链输运速度, 还可使粒子链出现与整数阶方向相反的定向流; 在阶数固定下, 定向输运速度将随参数(噪声强度、耦合强度、棘齿势峰值高度)变化出现广义随机共振现象. 关键词： 分数阶布朗马达 闪烁棘齿势 合作定向输运 广义随机共振     

Monte Carlo Simulation of Kinesin Movement with a Lattice Model

Kinesin is a processive double-headed molecular motor that moves along a microtubule by taking about 8nm steps. It generally hydrolyzes one ATP molecule for taking each forward step. The processive movement of the kinesin molecular motors is numerically simulated with a lattice model. The motors are considered as Brownian particles and the ATPase processes of both heads are taken into account. The Monte Carlo simulation results agree well with recent experimental observations, especially on the relation of velocity versus ATP and ADP concentrations.     

Stochastic mechano-chemical kinetics of molecular motors: A multidisciplinary enterprise from a physicist’s perspective

A molecular motor is made of either a single macromolecule or a macromolecular complex. Just like their macroscopic counterparts, molecular motors “transduce” input energy into mechanical work. All the nano-motors considered here operate under isothermal conditions far from equilibrium. Moreover, one of the possible mechanisms of energy transduction, called Brownian ratchet, does not even have any macroscopic counterpart. But, molecular motor is not synonymous with Brownian ratchet; a large number of molecular motors execute a noisy power stroke, rather than operating as Brownian ratchet. We review not only the structural design and stochastic kinetics of individual single motors, but also their coordination, cooperation and competition as well as the assembly of multi-module motors in various intracellular kinetic processes. Although all the motors considered here execute mechanical movements, efficiency and power output are not necessarily good measures of performance of some motors. Among the intracellular nano-motors, we consider the porters, sliders and rowers, pistons and hooks, exporters, importers, packers and movers as well as those that also synthesize, manipulate and degrade “macromolecules of life”. We review mostly the quantitative models for the kinetics of these motors. We also describe several of those motor-driven intracellular stochastic processes for which quantitative models are yet to be developed. In part I, we discuss mainly the methodology and the generic models of various important classes of molecular motors. In part II, we review many specific examples emphasizing the unity of the basic mechanisms as well as diversity of operations arising from the differences in their detailed structure and kinetics. Multi-disciplinary research is presented here from the perspective of physicists.     

Performance characteristics of an irreversible thermally driven Brownian microscopic heat engine

Brownian particles moving in a spatially asymmetric but periodic potential (ratchet), with an external load force and connected to an alternating hot and cold reservoir, are modeled as a microscopic heat engine, referred to as the Brownian heat engine. The heat flow via both the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the particles are considered simultaneously. The forward and backward particle currents are determined using an Arrhenius' factor. Expressions for the power output and efficiency are derived analytically. The maximum power output and efficiency are calculated. It is expounded that the Brownian heat engine is always irreversible and its efficiency cannot approach the efficiency η_C of the Carnot heat engine even in quasistatic limit. The influence of the main parameters such as the load, the barrier height of the potential, the asymmetry of the potential and the temperature ratio of the heat reservoirs on the performance of the Brownian heat engine is discussed in detail. It is found that the Brownian heat engines may be controlled to operate in different regions through variation of some parameters.     

Magnetic relaxation in a spin-1 Ising model near the second-order phase transition point

The magnetic relaxation of a spin-1 Ising model with bilinear and biquadratic interactions is formulated within the framework of statistical equilibrium theory and the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. Using a molecular-field expression for the magnetic Gibbs energy, the magnetic Gibbs energy produced in the irreversible process is calculated and time derivatives of the dipolar and quadrupolar order parameters are treated as fluxes conjugate to their appropriate generalized forces in the sense of Onsager theory. The kinetic equations are obtained by introducing kinetic coefficients that satisfy the Onsager relation. By solving these equations an expression is derived for the dynamic or complex magnetic susceptibility. From the real and imaginary parts of this expression, magnetic dispersion and absorption factor are calculated and analyzed near the second-order phase transition.     

Controllable 3D atomic Brownian motor in optical lattices

We study a Brownian motor, based on cold atoms in optical lattices, where atomic motion can be induced in a controlled manner in an arbitrary direction, by rectification of isotropic random fluctuations. In contrast with ratchet mechanisms, our Brownian motor operates in a potential that is spatially and temporally symmetric, in apparent contradiction to the Curie principle. Simulations, based on the Fokker-Planck equation, allow us to gain knowledge on the qualitative behaviour of our Brownian motor. Studies of Brownian motors, and in particular ones with unique control properties, are of fundamental interest because of the role they play in protein motors and their potential applications in nanotechnology. In particular, our system opens the way to the study of quantum Brownian motors.     

Coulomb Friction Driving Brownian Motors

We review a family of models recently introduced to describe Brownian motors under the influence of Coulomb friction, or more general non-linear friction laws. It is known that, if the heat bath is modeled as the usual Langevin equation (linear viscosity plus white noise), additional non-linear friction forces are not sufficient to break detailed balance, i.e. cannot produce a motor effect. We discuss two possibile mechanisms to elude this problem. A first possibility, exploited in several models inspired to recent experiments, is to replace the heat bath's white noise by a "collisional noise", that is the effect of random collisions with an external equilibrium gas of particles. A second possibility is enlarging the phase space, e.g. by adding an external potential which couples velocity to position, as in a Klein-Kramers equation. In both cases, non-linear friction becomes sufficient to achieve a non-equilibrium steady state and, in the presence of an even small spatial asymmetry, a motor effect is produced.     

一维晶格中费曼棘齿-棘爪热机

研究了一维晶格中费曼棘齿-棘爪热机模型. 用粒子的概率主方程来描述粒子在晶格中的动力学特性, 推导出热流、 功率和效率的表达式. 通过数值计算分析势垒高度、 外力和温比对热流以及热机功率和效率的影响. 研究表明: 在粒子稳态概率流为零时, 存在非零的热流从高温库流入低温库, 类似于经典不可逆卡诺模型中的热漏; 热漏的存在使得热机的效率远远小于卡诺效率, 功率与效率之间为闭合的关系曲线, 热机为不可逆热机; 对热机性能参数进行优化, 可以使热机工作在最优性能状态下.