Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Feynman's ratchet illustrates how work can be extracted from thermal fluctuations in the presence of two heat baths at different temperatures. While some experimental realizations of the ratchet effect have been studied, most lack miniaturization, which is important for some applications. Here, we propose a physical implementation of Feynman's ratchet based on Josephson junctions exhibiting the superconducting diode effect. This setup functions as a heat engine that generates work solely from a temperature gradient via thermal fluctuations. We analyze its output power and efficiency, and, through the Seebeck coefficient, identify the conditions under which the device operates in reverse, functioning instead as a Peltier cooler.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221505082