We report molecular dynamics simulations of a generic hydrophobic nanopore connecting
two reservoirs which are initially at different Na+ concentrations, as in a biological cell. The
nanopore is impermeable to water under equilibrium conditions, but the strong electric field
caused by the ionic concentration gradient drives water molecules in. The density and
structure of water in the pore are highly field dependent. In a typical simulation run, we
observe a succession of cation passages through the pore, characterized by approximately …