Entropy production, energy loss and currents in adiabatically rocked thermal ratchets

Abstract

We study the nature of currents, input energy and entropy production in different types of adiabatically rocked ratchets using the method of stochastic energetics. The currents exhibit a peak as a function of noise strength. We show that there is no underlying resonance or synchronization phenomena in the dynamics of the particle with these current peaks. This follows from the analysis of energy loss in the medium. We also show that the maxima seen in current as well as the total entropy production are not directly correlated.