Bekele, Mulugeta (PhD)Demeyu, Lemi2018-06-282023-11-092018-06-282023-11-091999-06http://10.90.10.223:4000/handle/123456789/4464Considering a sawtooth-shaped symmetric periodic potential, we devise a model ratchet potential by subdividing the potential balTier on one side along the reaction path. For this new model of ratchet potential we examine the inter-well escape rates of a Brownian particle using the known supersymmetric potential approach. We show the existence of an optimal number of barrier subdivision at \\'hich a unidirectional motion of the Brownian particle takes maximum speed of nonstationary transport. We find that this speed is substantially larger than the maximum speed that occurs for the classic ratchet potential. This may suggest the best possible way of extracting useful work from random the1l11al backgroundenNonstationary TransportThesis