Optimal Finite-Time Control of Nonreciprocal Brownian Dimers: Thermodynamic Anomaly and Multiple Transitions

Abstract

We solve exactly a finite-time thermodynamic optimal control problem for two nonreciprocally interacting Brownian particles translated by two harmonic traps. The controller manipulates both the center and separation of the pair. Nonreciprocal interactions generate an internal active force that couples these two channels. The optimal protocol is oscillatory, deliberately opens the dimer even when the target separation is unchanged, and can extract work during transport. A central finding is a finite critical time beyond which the external-work infimum is $-\infty$: at any prescribed duration beyond this threshold, both extractable work and output power are unbounded. Physical regularizations such as finite trap range and force saturation restore a finite optimum and convert the anomaly into optimal-protocol transitions: in the zero-target case, a hard finite range produces a first-order-like jump from the zero protocol to a maximum-range protocol, whereas smooth force saturation gives a continuous, second-order-like onset. Under finite-range constraints, the optimal protocol can further undergo multiple finite-time transitions, producing multiple work-duration kinks with no qualitative analog in prior studies.