A motor protein model and how it relates to stochastic resonance, feynman’s ratchet, and maxwell’s demon

Abstract

A motor protein turns chemical energy into motion, but it differs from an ordinary engine in that random Brownian kicks become important. Below we propose a description where the energy input is used to ratchet Brownian motion, i.e. to allow it in one direction and block it in the opposite direction. Our model relates to famous paradoxes like Feynman’s Ratchet and Maxwell’s Demon, but is thermodynamically consistent.