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Pseudoratchet through one-dimensional quantum Brownian motion for energy-efficient Brownian computing

Sho Nakade1,2,*, Ferdinand Peper1,†, Kazuki Kanki3,‡, and Tomio Petrosky4,5,§

  • *Contact author: shonakade.lab@gmail.com
  • †Contact author: peper@nict.go.jp
  • ‡Contact author: kanki@omu.ac.jp
  • §Contact author: petrosky@austin.utexas.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043316 – Published 19 December, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/fskm-y179

Abstract

We propose a pseudoratchet mechanism based on one-dimensional (1D) quantum Brownian motion, offering a route to energy-efficient Brownian computing without relying on conventional ratchet structures. Quantum resonance effects in 1D system naturally partition the momentum space into dynamically independent subspaces, each of which lacks inversion symmetry. This leads to spontaneous unidirectional particle transport near thermal equilibrium, without external forces or asymmetric potential gradients. We analyze this pseudoratchet mechanism from kinetic and entropic perspectives and show that the directional transport is sustained without energy dissipation, remaining fully consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. Our analysis provides a microscopic and physically grounded foundation for reversible information transport in Brownian computing.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043316– Published 19 December, 2025
  • Received 13 May 2025
  • Accepted 23 November 2025
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