Separating particles according to their physical properties: Transverse drift of underdamped and overdamped interacting particles diffusing through two-dimensional ratchets

Sergey Savel’ev, Vyacheslav Misko, Fabio Marchesoni, and Franco Nori
Phys. Rev. B 71, 214303 – Published 27 June 2005

Abstract

We study the transverse net current of particles moving through two-dimensional (2D) square arrays or chains of potential energy hills or wells when driven perpendicularly to their spatial symmetry axis (i.e., the mirror-symmetry axis). This transverse rectification is quite general and occurs for nonzero inertia, and/or interaction, and/or temperature. We separately consider both cases: underdamped and overdamped interacting particles. The interplay between inertia and thermal fluctuations, no matter how weak, determines robust rectification properties, that allow distinct control techniques for transport of underdamped (e.g., electrons or colloids) versus overdamped particles (e.g., vortices) in asymmetric nanodevices and microdevices. Furthermore, the transverse rectification of interacting particles moving through 2D asymmetric potential landscapes can drop to zero if their interaction length is smaller than a certain characteristic geometric length. This size-selective rectification mechanism could be used for developing particle separation devices.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 15 September 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.214303

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sergey Savel’ev1, Vyacheslav Misko1,2, Fabio Marchesoni1,3, and Franco Nori1,2

  • 1Frontier Research System, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
  • 2Center for Theoretical Physics, Center for the Study of Complex Systems, Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1120, USA
  • 3Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá di Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 71, Iss. 21 — 1 June 2005

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×