Quantum Ratchet motion

Abstract

Ratchet models provide an useful mechanism for directed transport using nonequilibrium fluctuations of the surrounding. In the dynamics of micro-particles quantum effect is likely to make its presence felt in appropriate situations, particularly at low temperature. In this review we have discussed the aspects of ratchet motion in quantum domain. Making use of a Wigner canonical thermal distribution for description of the statistical properties of the noise, we explore the generic effects of quantization like vacuum field fluctuation and tunneling in fluctuation-induced quantum transport both in the overdamped and the underdamped limits and the energetics of quantum ratchet.