From Brownian Motors to Maxwell's Demon

[Charlie Brown ARN]

I recently sent this email. JKG is/was in charge of nanoengineering at IBM Zurich. I often openly send copies of email correspondance.

Ken, Neda, James K. Gimzewski,

Have you increased the torque of this effect by increasing the number of vane projections and / or their efficiency?
I just joined AAAS - free level. I hold US Patent 3,890,161 DIODE ARRAY where very many very small diodes in consistent alignment parallel aggregate rectified johnson noise for concurrent refrigeration and electrical power release. In 1993 Forrest Labs [lost to contact] under my commission modified a Au multiple anode on N type GaAs sattelite transponder diode patch and tested it in a shielded inert vegetable oil bath observing 50 nw , > 1/2kTB. The next step is a C60 multiple anode @ 10^11 / cm2 on N type InSb prototype. There are limits on how much I am allowed to write to you about this matter. Your response would be appreciated.

Aloha,

Charles M. Brown

[Charlie Brown ARN]

I sent out this email recently,
subject: Retraction of claims of nanoaeronometer obseved having unidirectional thermal rotation

I must retract. The rotating molecule was not rotating in a consistent direction driven solely by random molecular impacts. I do not know if there was any preference in direction. I also don't know if the rotation was powered or directed by current from the microscope probe. Feynman's conclusion that ratchets do not yield unidoirectional motion was interpreted to be true by the researchers. The vanes on the molecules were distinctly propeller shaped but not markedly cup shaped. I will pass on news of nanoaeronometers if I hear of it. My enthusiasm was based on the abstract before reading the full article attached.

Aloha,

Charlie

[andreas_varesi]

Hi Charlie,

thank you for this information, it would have been too easy. But perhaps there is another solution.

Andreas

[Charlie Brown ARN]

I think it can be tinkered into working but I'm nowhere near the equipment and they didn't answer my email. One way responsive to Feynman's opposition is to have multiple pawls guarding the ratchet wheel. The number of pawls is the exponent in the reliability of the pawls. When the plurality of pawls is reliable enough, the springs holding the pawls to the ratchet are not needed so the pawls revert to their proper function. Another answer is to make a molrcule with proper cups on the arms.

Aloha, Charlie