Strong enhancement of current, efficiency and mass separation in Brownian motors driven by non Gaussian noises

Abstract

We study a Brownian motor driven by a colored non Gaussian noise source with a $q$-dependent probability distribution, where $q$ is a parameter indicating the departure from Gaussianity. For $q=1$ the noise is Gaussian (Ornstein--Uhlenbeck), while, for $q>1$, the probability distribution falls like a power law. In the latter case, we find a marked enhancement of both the current and the efficiency of the Brownian motor in the overdamped regime. We also analyze the case with inertia and show that, again for $q > 1$, a remarkable increase of the ratchet's mass separation capability is obtained.