Tight coupling in thermal Brownian motors

Abstract

We study analytically a thermal Brownian motor model and calculate exactly the Onsager coefficients. We show how the reciprocity relation holds and that the determinant of the Onsager matrix vanishes. Such condition implies that the device is built with tight coupling. This explains why Carnot's efficiency can be achieved in the limit of infinitely slow velocities. We also prove that the efficiency at maximum power has the maximum possible value, which corresponds to the Curzon-Alhborn bound. Finally, we discuss the model acting as a Brownian refrigerator.

References in corpus (5)

• Inattainability of Carnot efficiency in the Brownian heat engine
• Feynman's ratchet and pawl: an exactly solvable model
• Brownian refrigerator
• A heat pump at a molecular scale controlled by a mechanical force
• Symmetric Brownian motor

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