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Dimer motion on a periodic substrate: Spontaneous symmetry breaking and absolute negative mobility

David Speer, Ralf Eichhorn, Mykhaylo Evstigneev, and Peter Reimann
Phys. Rev. E 85, 061132 – Published 28 June 2012
Physics logo See Synopsis: The Opposite of Friction

Abstract

We consider two coupled particles moving along a periodic substrate potential with negligible inertia effects (overdamped limit). Even when the particles are identical and the substrate spatially symmetric, a sinusoidal external driving of appropriate amplitude and frequency may lead to spontaneous symmetry breaking in the form of a permanent directed motion of the dimer. Thermal noise restores ergodicity and thus zero net velocity, but entails arbitrarily fast diffusion of the dimer for sufficiently weak noise. Moreover, upon application of a static bias force, the dimer exhibits a motion opposite to that force (absolute negative mobility). The key requirement for all these effects is a nonconvex interaction potential of the two particles.

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  • Received 28 February 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.85.061132

©2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

The Opposite of Friction

Published 28 June 2012

Particles on a surface can have a negative mobility when subject to an oscillating driving force.

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Authors & Affiliations

David Speer1, Ralf Eichhorn2, Mykhaylo Evstigneev1, and Peter Reimann1

  • 1Universität Bielefeld, Fakultät für Physik, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
  • 2NORDITA, Roslagstullsbacken 23, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

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Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 6 — June 2012

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