The term "Brownian ratchet" refers to a thought experiment and theoretical model in statistical mechanics that illustrates a mechanism seemingly capable of converting thermal energy (random motion) into directed mechanical work. The concept was introduced in the early 20th century, particularly by the physicist Richard Feynman in his famous 1960 lecture. ### Key Features: 1. **Basic Concept**: The Brownian ratchet consists of a system that includes a ratchet wheel and a pawl.
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