We apply a simple Brownian ratchet model to an artificial molecular rotary system mounted in a biological membrane, in which the rotor always maintains unidirectional rotation in response to a linearly polarized weak ac field. Because the rotor and stator compose a ratchet system, we describe the motion of the rotor tip with the Langevin equation for a particle in a two-dimensional three-tooth ratchet potential of threefold symmetry. Unidirectional rotation can be induced under the field and optimized by stochastic resonance, wherein the mean angular momentum (MAM) of the rotor exhibits a bell-shaped curve for the noise strength. We obtain analytical expressions for the MAM and power loss from the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation, via a Markov transition model for coarse-grained states (six-state model). The MAM expression reveals a significant effect depending on the chirality of the ratchet potential: in achiral cases, the MAM approximately vanishes with respect to the polarization angle φ of the field
in chiral cases, the MAM does not crucially depend on φ, but depends on the direction of the ratchet
i.e., the parity of the unidirectional rotation is inherent in the ratchet structure. This feature is useful for artificial rotary systems to maintain robust unidirectional rotation independent of the mounting condition. © 2013 American Physical Society.