On the transport coefficients of interacting Brownian particles

A macroscopic argument shows that the ratios between the coefficients of particle transport are given by the equation of state of the diffusing substance, which may interact both by classical and by quantum mechanical effects. This fact is compared with the results of two microscopic treatments: first it agrees with the diffusion equation for interacting particles, and — on a less coarse-grained level — it can also be inferred from Boltzmann's transport equation.Work supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation     

Equilibrium fluctuations for interacting Brownian particles

We consider an infinitely extended system of Brownian particles interacting by a pair force-gradV. Their initial distribution is stationary and given by the Gibbs measure associated with the potentialV with fugacityz. We assume thatV is symmetric, finite range, three times continuously differentiable, superstable, and positive and that the fugacity is small in the sense that 0z0.28/edq(1-e ^–V(q)). In addition a certain essential self-adjointness property is assumed. We prove then that the time-dependent fluctuations in the density on a spatial scale of order ^–1 and on a time scale of order ^–2 converge as 0 to a Gaussian field with covariance dqg(q)(e ^(/2)|t| f)(q) withp the density and the compressibility.     

Controlling the motion of interacting particles: homogeneous systems and binary mixtures

We elaborate on recent results on the transport of interacting particles for both single-species and binary mixtures subject to an external driving on a ratchetlike asymmetric substrate. Moreover, we also briefly review motion control without any spatial asymmetric potential (i.e., no ratchet). Our results are obtained using an analytical approach based on a nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation as well as via numerical simulations. By increasing the particle density, the net dc ratchet current in our alternating (ac)-driven systems can either increase or decrease depending on the temperature, the drive amplitude, and the nature of the inter-particle interactions. This provides an effective control of particle motion by just changing the particle density. At low temperatures, attracting particles can condense at some potential minima, thus breaking the discrete translational symmetry of the substrate. Depending on the drive amplitude, an agglomeration or condensation results either in a drop to zero or in a saturation of the net particle velocity at densities above the condensation density-the latter case producing a very efficient rectification mechanism. For binary mixtures we find three ways of controlling the particle motion of one (passive) B species by means of another (active) A species: (i) Dragging the target particles B by driving the auxiliary particles A, (ii) rectifying the motion of the B particles on the asymmetric potential created by the A-B interactions, and (iii) dynamically modifying (pulsating) this potential by controlling the motion of the A particles. This allows to easily control the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the target particles by changing either the frequency, phase and/or amplitude of the applied ac drive(s).     

Tracer dynamics in Dyson's model of interacting Brownian particles

We prove that the mean square displacement of a tracer particle grows as logt for larget. We point out a connection to the low-temperature floating phase of the ANNNI model.     

Conductivity of interacting Brownian particles in a periodic medium

Thed c-conductivity of interacting Brownian particles diffusing in a periodic potential is investigated. An approximate method is used which relates the conductivity to the spatial variation of the particle density. Numerical results are given for arbitrary temperatures, moderate densities and various forms of the pair potential.     

Brownian motion in inhomogeneous media and with interacting particles

Brownian motion in media with a space-dependent temperature and density is described by Langevin equations in phase space. Elimination of the velocity shows that diffusion inx-space cannot in general be characterized by a single diffusion parameter, nor can space-dependence always be accounted for by mere assignment of some sense of stochastic integration to the Langevin equation which has been reduced as in the homogeneous case. Steady solutions of the resulting equations agree with thermodynamics. Interactions between Brownian particles (giving rise to nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations) lead to a generalization of Einstein's relation.Work supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation     

Memory function approach to the dynamics of interacting Brownian particles

We investigate some of the dynamic properties of diffusing particles described by a many-body Smoluchowski equation. The dynamic structure factor is expressed in terms of a memory function which is evaluated in the cases of i) weak interaction and ii) low particle density, but arbitrary interaction. A one-dimensional system with a hard-core pair potential is treated explicitly. Furthermore, by including a periodic single-particle potential, a model is obtained which has relevance to superionic conductors. For this case we discuss how the frequency-dependent conductivity is affected by the correlated motion of particles.     

Diffusion of interacting Brownian particles on non-regularly spaced stepped structures

In this paper, we investigate the diffusion process of interacting Brownian particles on stepped surfaces through a Langevin dynamic simulation method. Our primary interest is the investigation of the dynamics properties by calculating the collective diffusion coefficient for non-regularly spaced stepped structures using the Frenkel–Kontorova repulsive interactions. In particular, we have studied the effects of the Ehrlich–Schwoebel barrier $E_{S}$ and the additional binding energy $E_{B}$ on the diffusion process. Overall, our simulation results show that the value of the diffusion coefficient $D$ is reduced with increasing $E_{S}$ and $E_{B}$ . This reduction is also observed when decreasing the size of terraces. This diminution is well interpreted by calculating the effective potential which includes the effect of both potentials of Frenkel–Kontorova and the substrate.     

Theory of light scattering from a system of interacting Brownian particles

Starting from a N-particle diffusion equation for a system of N interacting spherical Brownian particles, a non-linear transport equation for concentration fluctuations δc(r, t) of the particles is derived. This dynamic equation is transformed into a hierarchy of equations for retarded propagators of increasing numbers of concentration fluctuations. A cluster expansion to lowest order in the average concentration results in a set of two coupled equations. The spectrum of light scattered by the interacting particles is in general not a Lorentzian, due to the non-linear term in the transport equation. For small scattering wave vectors k the width is D(ω)k², where ω is the transferred frequency. It is shown that D(0) = D_e, the effective diffusion coefficient. For a hardcore interaction potential the spectrum is Lorentzian and it is found that D_e = D₀(1 + φ), where D₀ is the diffusion constant for independent particles and φ the volume concentration of Brownian particles.     

Dynamical properties of strongly interacting Brownian particles : II. Self-diffusion

The self-diffusion process of Brownian particles is theoretically investigated for concentrated systems in the presence of strong potential interactions between particles. Starting from an N-particle diffusion equation, a formalism is developed to calculate the self-diffusion coefficient and the velocity autocorrelation function on the basis of the superposition approximation for the three-particle distribution function of non-equilibrium states. Explicit calculations are carried out for model systems of hard spheres with a screened Coulomb potential. Calculated time-dependent self-diffusion coefficients are compared with available data of the Brownian dynamics. Without introducing any phenomenological or adjustable parameters, quantitative agreement is achieved.     

The generalized Smoluchowski equation for interacting Brownian particles with hard cores

TheT-operator method know from the kinetic theory of hard-sphere systems is applied to derive the generalized Smoluchowski equation for interacting hard spheres and for interacting hard rods. In this way the boundary conditions due to interactions of hard cores of Brownian particles are incorporated in the evolution equation. The result is a convenient starting point for the analysis of dense suspensions.     

On the derivation of the generalized Langevin equation for interacting Brownian particles

The main result of this paper is a derivation of a generalized nonlinear Langevin equation (GLE) forn interacting particles in a bath. A consequence of the derivation is that the exact form of the (generalized) fluctuation-dissipation theorem is obtained. We discuss also the relation between the memory kernel of the GLE and some corresponding correlation functions which can be easily obtained in a molecular dynamics computer experiment. In the same spirit it is shown that the approach applies to a Brownian particle subjected to a stationary external field. The technique presented in a previous paper to simulate generalized Brownian dynamics can be easily extended to the present case. Our derivation intends to clarify the uses and (possibly) abuses of the Langevin equation in Brownian dynamics studies.     

Performance characteristics of Brownian motors

Brownian motors are nonequilibrium systems that rectify thermal fluctuations to achieve directed motion, using spatial or temporal asymmetry. We provide a tutorial introduction to this basic concept using the well-known example of a flashing ratchet, discussing the micro- to nanoscopic scale on which such motors can operate. Because of the crucial role of thermal noise, the characterization of the performance of Brownian motors must include their fluctuations, and we review suitable performance measures for motor coherency and efficiency. Specifically, we highlight that it is possible to determine the energy efficiency of Brownian motors by measuring their velocity fluctuations, without detailed knowledge of the motor function and its energy input. Finally, we exemplify these concepts using a model for an artificial single-molecule motor with internal degrees of freedom.     

Directed transport of two interacting particles in a washboard potential

We study the conservative and deterministic dynamics of two nonlinearly interacting particles evolving in a one-dimensional spatially periodic washboard potential. A weak tilt of the washboard potential is applied biasing one direction for particle transport. However, the tilt vanishes asymptotically in the direction of bias. Moreover, the total energy content is not enough for both particles to be able to escape simultaneously from an initial potential well; to achieve transport the coupled particles need to interact cooperatively. For low coupling strength the two particles remain trapped inside the starting potential well permanently. For increased coupling strength there exists a regime in which one of the particles transfers the majority of its energy to the other one, as a consequence of which the latter escapes from the potential well and the bond between them breaks. Finally, for suitably large couplings, coordinated energy exchange between the particles allows them to achieve escapes — one particle followed by the other — from consecutive potential wells resulting in directed collective motion. The key mechanism of transport rectification is based on the asymptotically vanishing tilt causing a symmetry breaking of the non-chaotic fraction of the dynamics in the mixed phase space. That is, after a chaotic transient, only at one of the boundaries of the chaotic layer do resonance islands appear. The settling of trajectories in the ballistic channels associated with transporting islands provides long-range directed transport dynamics of the escaping dimer.     

Wave vector and frequency dependent longitudinal viscosity of systems of interacting Brownian particles

Using linear response theory the memory function of the concentration-autocorrelation function of interacting Brownian particles is related directly to the change of the longitudinal stress due to fluctuations of the local velocity gradient. This derivation is valid for arbitrary frequencies and wavevectors and defines an intrinsic longitudinal viscosity of the system. It is further shown that the dynamical properties of interacting Brownian particles can be described by generalized hydrodynamic equations and that deviations of the concentration-autocorrelation function from an exponential form can be understood as a visco-elastic effect.     

Brownian motion in gravitationally interacting systems

We derive a model that describes the dynamics of a Brownian particle, such as a massive black hole, in a stellar system dominated by gravitational forces, and examine whether it achieves a state of equipartition of kinetic energy with the stars. This problem has been considered before only for stellar systems with an isothermal Maxwellian distribution of velocities; here we study other examples and confirm our calculations with N-body simulations. We show that in certain cases the black hole's steady state kinetic energy can be very far from equipartition.     

Brownian motors in the photoalignment of liquid crystals

Light can change the orientation of liquid-crystal molecules. Usually, the torque that causes the reorientation originates in angular-momentum transfer from the radiation field to the material. If a small amount of dichroic dye is dissolved in the liquid crystal, a light-induced torque can appear essentially without the transfer of angular momentum from light. We show that, in such cases, the dye molecules act as light-driven molecular motors which, via an orientational Brownian ratchet mechanism, transfer angular momentum, which originates at the cell walls, to the liquid crystal. Understanding the details of this mechanism is important for applications ranging from flat-panel displays to optomechanical transducers. Received: 20 October 2001 / Accepted: 14 January 2002 / Published online: 22 April 2002     

Energetics of Brownian motors: a review

We review the literature on the energetics of Brownian motors, distinguishing between forced ratchets, chemical motors – driven out of equilibrium by differences of chemical potential, and thermal motors – driven by temperature differences. The discussion is focused on the definition of efficiency and the compatibility between the models and the laws of thermodynamics. Received: 13 November 2001 / Accepted: 10 January 2002 / Published online: 22 April 2002     

Introduction to the physics of Brownian motors

A detailed introduction to directed transport in Brownian motors occurring in spatially periodic systems far from equilibrium is presented. We elucidate the prominent physical concepts and novel phenomena with a representative dissipative Brownian motor dynamics. Its main ingredient is a thermal noise with time-dependent temperature modulations that drive the system out of thermal equilibrium in a spatially asymmetric (ratchet-) potential. Yet, this asymmetric setup does not exhibit a concomitant obvious bias into one or the other direction of motion. Symmetry conditions for the appearance (or not) of directed current, its reversal upon variation of certain parameters, and various other generic features and applications are discussed. In addition, we provide a systematic classification scheme for Brownian motor models and review historical landmark contributions to the field. Received: 9 November 2001 / Accepted: 14 January 2002 / Published online: 22 April 2002