Current Inversion in a Temperature Ratchet with Asymmetric Unbiased External Forces

Transport of a Brownian particle moving in a symmetric potential is investigated in the presence of an asymmetric unbiased external force. The viscous medium is alternately in contact with the two heat reservoirs. We present the analytical expression of the net current at the quasi-steady state limit. It is found that the competition of the temporal asymmetric parameter of the driving force with the temperature difference leads to current reversals. The competition between the two opposite driving factors is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for current reversals.     

Suppression of diffusion by a weak external field in periodic potentials

Diffusion of overdamped Brownian particles in sawtooth potentials subject to a spatially uniform tilt is studied focusing on the influence of a small bias. It is shown that in the potentials with an asymmetry in the direction of tilting force, the application of a weak external force leads to a suppression of diffusive motion: the diffusion coefficient as a function of bias passes through a minimum which precedes an increase of diffusion caused by delocalization of particles. In the weak noise limit the effect can be understood as a competition between the forward and backward escape rates over potential barriers determining the behaviour of the diffusion coefficient in a weak external field. The asymptotic lower border for the reduction of spreading of particles at fixed temperature is established. The decrease of diffusion is accompanied by more rapid increase of current.     

Brownian motors in the low-energy approximation: Classification and properties

We classify Brownian motors based on the expansion of their velocity in terms of the reciprocal friction coefficient. The two main classes of motors (with dichotomic fluctuations in homogeneous force and periodic potential energy) are characterized by different analytical dependences of their mean velocity on the spatial and temporal asymmetry coefficients and by different adiabatic limits. The competition between the spatial and temporal asymmetries gives rise to stopping points. The transition through these points can be achieved by varying the asymmetry coefficients, temperature, and other motor parameters, which can be used, for example, for nanoparticle segregation. The proposed classification separates out a new type of motors based on synchronous fluctuations in symmetric potential and applied homogeneous force. As an example of this type of motors, we consider a near-surface motor whose two-dimensional motion (parallel and perpendicular to the substrate plane) results from fluctuations in external force inclined to the surface.     

Transport enhancement and efficiency optimization in two heat reservoir ratchets

We study a Brownian motor moving in a sawtooth potential in the presence of an external driving force and two heat reservoirs. Based on the corresponding Fokker--Planck equation, the analytical expressions of the current and efficiency in the quasi-steady-state limit are obtained. The effects of temperature difference and the amplitude of the external driving force on the current and efficiency are discussed, respectively. The following is our findings. (i) The current increases with both δ and A. In other words, δ and A enhance the transport of the Brownian motor. (ii) The competition between the temperature difference and the amplitude of the external driving force can lead to efficiency optimization. The efficiency is a peaked function of temperature, i.e., δ>0 and a lower amplitude value of the external driving force is necessary for efficiency optimization. (iii) The efficiency increases with δ, and decreases with A. δ and A play opposite roles with respect to the efficiency, which indicates that δ enhances the efficiency of energy transformation while A weakens it.     

Rotational effect in two-dimensional cooperative directed transport

In this review we investigate the rotation effect in the motion of coupled dimer in a two-dimensional asymmetric periodic potential. Free rotation does not generate directed transport in translational direction, while we find it plays an critical role in the motors motility when the dimer moves under the effect of asymmetry ratchet potential. In the presence of external force, we study the relation between the average current and the force numerically and theoretically. The numerical results show that only appropriate driving force could produce nonzero current and there are current transitions when the force is large enough. An analysis of stability analysis of limit cycles is applied to explain the occurrence of these transitions. Moreover, we numerically simulate the transport of this coupled dimer driven by the random fluctuations in the rotational direction. The existence of noise smooths the current transitions induced by the driving force and the resonance-like peaks which depend on the rod length emerge in small noise strength. Thanks to the noise in the rotational direction, autonomous motion emerges without the external force and large noise could make the current reversal happen. Eventually, the new mechanism to generate directed transport by the rotation is studied.     

反馈控制棘轮的定向输运效率研究

研究了反馈耦合布朗棘轮中粒子处于负载力、时变外力及噪声作用下的定向输运问题.详细讨论了外力作用时间的不对称性、外势空间的不对称性及外力周期等对反馈耦合棘轮中粒子输运效率的影响.研究发现,外力的时间不对称度能促进反馈棘轮中粒子的定向输运,随时间不对称度的增大,反馈棘轮中粒子能获得较大的效率.然而,外势空间的不对称度能有效抑制耦合棘轮中粒子的扩散,达到增强耦合粒子定向输运的效果.同时还发现,存在最优的噪声强度能使耦合粒子的输运效率达到最大.     

Fluctuation-driven directed transport in the presence of Lévy flights

The role of Lévy flights on fluctuation-driven transport in time independent periodic potentials with broken spatial symmetry is studied. Two complementary approaches are followed. The first one is based on a generalized Langevin model describing overdamped dynamics in a ratchet type external potential driven by Lévy white noise with stability index α in the range 1<α<2. The second approach is based on the space fractional Fokker-Planck equation describing the corresponding probability density function (PDF) of particle displacements. It is observed that, even in the absence of an external tilting force or a bias in the noise, the Lévy flights drive the system out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and generate an up-hill current (i.e., a current in the direction of the steeper side of the asymmetric potential). For small values of the noise intensity there is an optimal value of α yielding the maximum current. The direction and magnitude of the current can be manipulated by changing the Lévy noise asymmetry and the potential asymmetry. For a sharply localized initial condition, the PDF of staying at the minimum of the potential exhibits scaling behavior in time with an exponent bigger than the −1/α exponent corresponding to the force free case.     

Thermal convection in a rotating layer of a magnetic fluid

We consider Brownian particles with the ability to take up energy from the environment, to store it in an internal depot, and to convert internal energy into kinetic energy of motion. Provided a supercritical supply of energy, these particles are able to move in a “high velocity” or active mode, which allows them to move also against the gradient of an external potential. We investigate the critical energetic conditions of this self-driven motion for the case of a linear potential and a ratchet potential. In the latter case, we are able to find two different critical conversion rates for the internal energy, which describe the onset of a directed net current into the two different directions. The results of computer simulations are confirmed by analytical expressions for the critical parameters and the average velocity of the net current. Further, we investigate the influence of the asymmetry of the ratchet potential on the net current and estimate a critical value for the asymmetry in order to obtain a positive or negative net current. Received 20 September 1999     

外力作用下反馈耦合布朗棘轮的定向输运

本文研究了处于外力作用下双阱棘轮势中两个反馈耦合布朗粒子的定向输运性能. 通过对过阻尼朗之万方程的数值求解, 详细讨论了外力、热噪声与势阱的不对称参数等对耦合布朗粒子的平均速度、 有效扩散系数及Pe数的影响. 研究发现, 平均速度随外力呈周期性的变化规律. 同时耦合系统存在最优噪声强度会使定向输运达到最强. 值得指出的是棘轮系统可通过改变双阱势的结构来获得较强的定向流. 关键词： 耦合布朗棘轮 外力 双阱棘轮势 平均速度     

Modeling and Performance Optimization of an Irreversible Two-Stage Combined Thermal Brownian Heat Engine

Based on finite time thermodynamics, an irreversible combined thermal Brownian heat engine model is established in this paper. The model consists of two thermal Brownian heat engines which are operating in tandem with thermal contact with three heat reservoirs. The rates of heat transfer are finite between the heat engine and the reservoir. Considering the heat leakage and the losses caused by kinetic energy change of particles, the formulas of steady current, power output and efficiency are derived. The power output and efficiency of combined heat engine are smaller than that of single heat engine operating between reservoirs with same temperatures. When the potential filed is free from external load, the effects of asymmetry of the potential, barrier height and heat leakage on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. When the potential field is free from external load, the effects of basic design parameters on the performance of the combined heat engine are analyzed. The optimal power and efficiency are obtained by optimizing the barrier heights of two heat engines. The optimal working regions are obtained. There is optimal temperature ratio which maximize the overall power output or efficiency. When the potential filed is subjected to external load, effect of external load is analyzed. The steady current decreases versus external load; the power output and efficiency are monotonically increasing versus external load.     

过阻尼布朗棘轮的斯托克斯效率研究

根据随机能量理论解析得到阻尼环境中布朗粒子的概率流和斯托克斯效率,并进一步研究布朗粒子的输运性能.详细讨论了空间的不对称性、外偏置力及外势结构等对棘轮定向输运的影响.研究发现,合适的外偏置力能使棘轮的定向输运达到最强.通过调节外势的不对称性可使棘轮中粒子的运动反向,当选择合适的空间不对称性时布朗粒子的反向输运可获得最强.此外,一定条件下合适的外势高度也能增强棘轮输运,且能使粒子克服黏滞阻力的斯托克斯效率达到最大.所得结论能够启发实验上设计合适的外势及外偏置来优化布朗棘轮的定向输运性能,并为生物纳米器件的研制提供一定的理论参考.     

Brownian pump with an unbiased external force

We investigate Brownian pump transport in the presence of an unbiased external force. The pumping system is embedded in a finite region bounded by two particle reservoirs. In the adiabatic limit, we obtain the analytical expressions of the current and the concentration ratio. We find that Brownian particles can be pumped through an asymmetric potential from a particle reservoir at low concentration to one at the same or higher concentration in the presence of an unbiased external force.      

Current reversal and mass separation of inertial Brownian motors in a two-noise ratchet

Transport of an inertial Brownian motor moving in an asymmetric periodic potential driven by an external force and correlated noises is investigated. Using the numerical algorithm, the asymptotic mean velocity (AMV) for characterizing directed transport is obtained. The effects of the external driving force f and the correlation λ between the two noises on the AMV are discussed. The results manifest: (1) the external driving force and the correlation between the two noises can lead to the phenomena like current reversal. (2) The competitions among the external driving force and the correlation between the two noises are necessary for current reversal, i.e., fλ>0. (3) Different directions of transport are found for different masses of the Brownian particles under the condition fλ>0. Therefore a theoretical study is suggested for separating Brownian particles according to their different masses in the ratchet system.     

二维势场中弹性耦合粒子的定向输运研究

建立了二维势场中弹性耦合粒子的输运模型, 其中一维上加交流驱动及噪声, 另一维上不加驱动及噪声, 分析讨论了过阻尼情形下系统和外部参量对定向流的影响. 结果表明, 粒子可以通过相互耦合使一个方向上输入的驱动能量转化到垂直方向上, 从而使无能量输入的方向产生定向流. 适当的弹簧自由长度及耦合强度可以使定向流达到极值, 特别是当耦合强度及噪声强度固定时, 定向流会随弹簧自由长度的变化而振荡, 出现多峰现象. 研究还发现, 定向流随噪声强度的变化出现随机共振现象. 当产生定向流方向上的势的不对称度达到一定程度时会出现流反转现象. 关键词： 弹性耦合 定向输运 随机共振 流反转     

Directed transport of coupled Brownian ratchets with time-delayed feedback

A time-delayed feedback ratchet consisting of two Brownian particles interacting through the elastic spring is consid ered. The model describes the directed transport of coupled Brownian particles in an asymmetric two-well ratchet potential which can be calculated theoretically and implemented experimentally. We explore how the centre-of-mass velocity is af fected by the time delay, natural length of the spring, amplitude strength, angular frequency, external force, and the structure of the potential. It is found that the enhancement of the current can be obtained by varying the coupling strength of the delayed feedback system. When the thermal fluctuation and the harmonic potential match appropriately, directed current evolves periodically with the natural length of the spring and can achieve a higher transport coherence. Moreover, the external force and the amplitude strength can enhance the directed transport of coupled Brownian particles under certain conditions. It is expected that the polymer of large biological molecules may demonstrate a variety of novel cooperative effects in real propelling devices.     

Mobility in a periodic potential: A simple derivation

A simple derivation is given for the mobility of Brownian particles in a periodic potential in the overdamped regime. The method makes use of the fact that the steady state current density, in response to a uniform external force, is uniform in space and can be expressed as a product of the particle density and mean velocity field. To lowest order in the external force, the particle density is given by the equilibrium density in the absence of the external force.     

Pure spin-current diode based on interacting quantum dot tunneling junction

A magnetic field-controlled spin-current diode is theoretically proposed, which consists of a junction with an interacting quantum dot sandwiched between a pair of nonmagnetic electrodes. By applying a spin bias V_S across the junction, a pure spin current can be obtained in a certain gate voltage regime,regardless of whether the Coulomb repulsion energy exists. More interestingly, if we applied an external magnetic field on the quantum dot, we observed a clear asymmetry in the spectrum of spin current I_S as a function of spin bias, while the charge current always decays to zero in the Coulomb blockade regime. Such asymmetry in the current profile suggests a spin diode-like behavior with respect to the spin bias, while the net charge through the device is almost zero. Different from the traditional charge current diode, this design can change the polarity direction and rectifying ability by adjusting the external magnetic field, which is very convenient. This device scheme can be compatible with current technologies and has potential applications in spintronics or quantum processing.     

Asymmetry of the shape of surroundings as a mechanism for generating directed motion

A mechanism for generating a directed motion of a Brownian particle in an asymmetric channel under the action of a varying force field is considered. The setup implementing such a mechanism resembles typical Brownian motors using asymmetry of the energy potential (ratchet effect). It is shown that under certain conditions, the asymmetry of the shape may ensure the maximal level of rectification for a large intensity of the external field drawing the system from equilibrium. The main question formulated here is the dependence of the rectifying ability of such a mechanism on the external action parameters and, above all, on the form of the time dependence. The results obtained here for a sine signal and an aperiodic train of pulses are compared with the previous results obtained by the authors for bipolar rectangular pulses. General estimates obtained for pulses of an arbitrary shape determine its influence on the velocity of directed motion. Analysis of the proposed mechanism is based of the combination of analytic calculations for a strong external field with simulation by the method of Brownian dynamics for arbitrary parameters.     

Current transport and mass separation for an asymmetric fluctuation system with correlated noises

We discuss the transport of an underdamped particle driven by an external fluctuation force in a spatially periodic asymmetric potential with correlated noises. The corresponding mathematical model is established. The movement of the steady current of an underdamped particle is presented by the method of the numerical simulation. It is indicated that the value of the current may be negative, zero, or positive. The external fluctuation force and correlated noises can effect the current direction. Under the appropriate parameters, the correlated noises intensity may even raise a reversal of the current.Besides, we have noticed a phenomenon that particles with different weight have different directions during movement by the impact of the correlated noises and external fluctuation force. Therefore, the Brownian particles can be effectively separated according to their masses.     

Deterministic inhomogeneous inertia ratchets

We study the deterministic dynamics of a periodically driven particle in the underdamped case in a spatially symmetric periodic potential. The system is subjected to a space-dependent friction coefficient, which is similarly periodic as the potential but with a phase difference. We observe that frictional inhomogeneity in a symmetric periodic potential mimics most of the qualitative features of deterministic dynamics in a homogeneous system with an asymmetric periodic potential. We point out the need of averaging over the initial phase of the external drive at small frictional inhomogeneity parameter values or analogously low potential asymmetry regimes in obtaining ratchet current. We also show that at low amplitudes of the drive, where ratchet current is not possible in the deterministic case, noise plays a significant role in realizing ratchet current.