= Polymerization Brownian ratchet
A <polymerization Brownian ratchet> advances a filament by incorporating a monomer when thermal motion opens enough space between its tip and a resisting load. The irreversible chemical step rectifies the load's fluctuations. The elementary load advance $a$ depends on tip geometry; two staggered strands can give $a=\delta/2$, whereas two aligned strands do not automatically give this step. An effective addition rate must refer to the same elementary advance.
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