Related papers: Mechanical coupling in flashing ratchets
Motivated by a biased diffusion of molecular motors with the bias dependent on the state of the substrate, we investigate a random walk on a one-dimensional lattice that contains weak links (called "bridges'') which are affected by the…
The existence and properties of an exact universal excitation waveform for optimal enhancement of directed ratchet transport are deduced from the criticality scenario giving rise to ratchet universality, and confirmed by numerical…
We study a Brownian motor, based on cold atoms in optical lattices, where atomic motion can be induced in a controlled manner in an arbitrary direction, by rectification of isotropic random fluctuations. In contrast with ratchet mechanisms,…
Using computer simulations, we study a two-dimensional system of sterically interacting self-mobile run-and-tumble disk-shaped particles with an underlying periodic quasi-one-dimensional asymmetric substrate, and show that a rich variety of…
Brownian motion of an array of harmonically coupled particles subject to a periodic substrate potential and driven by an external bias is investigated. In the linear response limit (small bias), the coupling between particles may enhance…
Transport properties of particles and waves in spatially periodic structures that are driven by external time-dependent forces manifestly depend on the space-time symmetries of the corresponding equations of motion. A systematic analysis of…
We demonstrate that a cycle of three holographic optical trapping patterns can implement a thermal ratchet for diffusing colloidal spheres, and that the ratchet-driven transport displays flux reversal as a function of the cycle frequency…
We present a generic formalism to describe Brownian motion of particles with intrinsic asymmetry and give predictions for the drift behavior in unbiased time-dependent force fields. Our findings are supported by molecular dynamics…
We study a model for the translocation of proteins across membranes through a nanopore using a ratcheting mechanism. When the protein enters the nanopore it diffuses in and out of the pore according to a Brownian motion. Moreover, it is…
Based on Dynamical Density Functional Theory (DDFT) we investigate a binary mixture of interacting Brownian particles driven over a substrate via a one-dimensional ratchet potential. The particles are modeled as soft spheres where one…
We consider a model of a Brownian motor composed of two coupled overdamped degrees of freedom moving in periodic potentials and driven by two heat reservoirs. This model exhibits a spontaneous breaking of symmetry and gives rise to directed…
Ratchets are dynamic systems where particle transport is induced by zero-average forces due to the interplay between nonlinearity and asymmetry. Generally, they rely on the effect of a strong external driving. We show that stationary…
At low temperatures and strong friction the time evolution of the density distribution in position follows a quantum Smoluchowski equation. Recently, also higher-order contributions of quantum fluctuations to drift and diffusion…
The effects of quenched disorder on the overdamped motion of a driven particle on a periodic, asymmetric potential is studied. While for the unperturbed potential the transport is due to a regular drift, the quenched disorder induces a…
We analyze the diffusive transport of Brownian particles in narrow channels with periodically varying cross-section. The geometrical confinements lead to entropic barriers, the particle has to overcome in order to proceed in transport…
Feedback flashing ratchets are thermal rectifiers that use information on the state of the system to operate the switching on and off a periodic potential. We discuss different strategies for this operation with the aim of maximizing the…
We present results of molecular dynamics simulations for two-dimensional repulsively interacting colloids driven by a one dimensional asymmetric and commensurate ratchet potential, switching on and off stochastically. This drives a…
Microstructural dynamics in amorphous particle packings is commonly probed by quantifying particle displacements. While rigidity in particle packings emerges when displacement of particles are hindered, it is not obvious how the typically…
Bistability and snap-through instabilities are central to various mechanisms in nature and engineering, enabling rapid movement and large shape changes with minimal energy input. These phenomena are easily demonstrated by bending a piece of…
We present here a detailed study of the behaviour of a three dimensional Brownian motor based on cold atoms in a double optical lattice [P. Sjolund et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 190602 (2006)]. This includes both experiments and numerical…