Efficiency at maximum power of motor traffic on networks

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2014 Jun;89(6):062118. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.89.062118. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

We study motor traffic on Bethe networks subject to hard-core exclusion for both tightly coupled one-state machines and loosely coupled two-state machines that perform work against a constant load. In both cases we find an interaction-induced enhancement of the efficiency at maximum power (EMP) as compared to noninteracting motors. The EMP enhancement occurs for a wide range of network and single-motor parameters and is due to a change in the characteristic load-velocity relation caused by phase transitions in the system. Using a quantitative measure of the trade-off between the EMP enhancement and the corresponding loss in the maximum output power we identify parameter regimes where motor traffic systems operate efficiently at maximum power without a significant decrease in the maximum power output due to jamming effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Phase Transition
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins