One- and two-dimensional dynamics of elastically coupled Brownian motors

Brownian motors, in particular, “ratchet” models have been studied actively as models for molecular motors. In this paper, a flashing ratchet model for elastically coupled particles in an asymmetric periodic potential is introduced and studied as a model for molecular motors in muscle. In our one-dimensional model, velocity of motors and efficiency of energy conversion are investigated, and in our two-dimensional model we investigate the dynamics of the model by computer simulation and reproduce qualitatively the results of biological experiments in a motility assay.