Brownian Ratchets: From Statistical Physics to Bio and Nano-motors

by David Cubero, Ferruccio Renzoni

Overview

Illustrating the development of Brownian ratchets, from their foundations, to their role in the description of life at the molecular scale and in the design of artificial nano-machinery, this text will appeal to both advanced graduates and researchers entering the field. Providing a self-contained introduction to Brownian ratchets, devices which rectify microscopic fluctuations, Part I avoids technicalities and sets out the broad range of physical systems where the concept of ratchets is relevant. Part II supplies a single source for a complete and modern theoretical analysis of ratchets in regimes such as classical vs quantum and stochastic vs deterministic, and in Part III readers are guided through experimental developments in different physical systems, each highlighting a specific unique feature of ratchets. The thorough and systematic approach to the topic ensures that this book provides a complete guide to Brownian ratchets for newcomers and established researchers in physics, biology and biochemistry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781316537619
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/11/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

David Cubero is an associate professor at the University of Seville, specializing in the area of nonequilibrium statistical physics. He did pioneering work in relativistic and transport theory of statistical physics, and in the theory of driven systems.
Ferruccio Renzoni is Professor of Physics at University College London. He pioneered the field of driven ratchets for cold atoms, and carried out seminal experiments with quasiperiodically driven systems.

Table of Contents

Part I. Historical Overview and Early Developments: 1. Limitations imposed by the second law of thermodynamics; 2. Fundamental models of ratchet devices; 3. General relevance of the concept of ratchet; Part II. Theoretical Foundations: 4. Classical ratchets; 5. Quantum ratchets; 6. Energetics and characterization; Part III. Experimental Realizations of Ratchet Devices: 7. Ratchets for colloidal particles; 8. Cold atom ratchets; 9. Solid state ratchets; 10. Bio-inspired molecular motors; Appendix A. Stochastic processes techniques; Appendix B. Symmetries in a 1D overdamped system; Appendix C. Floquet theory; References; Index.