Dynamics of a polymer in a Brownian ratchet.

We have used Brownian dynamics simulations to study the dynamics of a bead-and-spring polymer subject to a flashing ratchet potential. To elucidate the role of hydrodynamic (HD) interactions, simulations were carried out for the cases where HD interactions are present and when they are absent. The average speed of the polymer and its conformational properties were examined upon variation in the polymer length, N, and the ratchet spatial period, L.