Abstract
We study the thermal rectification phenomenon in billiard systems with interacting particles. This interaction induces a local dynamical response of the billiard to an external thermodynamic gradient. To explain this dynamical effect we study the steady state of an asymmetric billiard in terms of the particle and energy reflection coefficients. This allows us to obtain expressions for the region in parameter space where large thermal rectifications are expected. Our results are confirmed by extensive numerical simulations.
- Received 29 May 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.094301
©2006 American Physical Society