394 research outputs found
Separation quality of a geometric ratchet
We consider an experimentally relevant model of a geometric ratchet in which
particles undergo drift and diffusive motion in a two-dimensional periodic
array of obstacles, and which is used for the continuous separation of
particles subject to different forces. The macroscopic drift velocity and
diffusion tensor are calculated by a Monte-Carlo simulation and by a
master-equation approach, using the correponding microscopic quantities and the
shape of the obstacles as input. We define a measure of separation quality and
investigate its dependence on the applied force and the shape of the obstacles
Cooperative Transport of Brownian Particles
We consider the collective motion of finite-sized, overdamped Brownian
particles (e.g., motor proteins) in a periodic potential. Simulations of our
model have revealed a number of novel cooperative transport phenomena,
including (i) the reversal of direction of the net current as the particle
density is increased and (ii) a very strong and complex dependence of the
average velocity on both the size and the average distance of the particles.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Reducing vortex density in superconductors using the ratchet effect
A serious obstacle that impedes the application of low and high temperature
superconductor (SC) devices is the presence of trapped flux. Flux lines or
vortices are induced by fields as small as the Earth's magnetic field. Once
present, vortices dissipate energy and generate internal noise, limiting the
operation of numerous superconducting devices. Methods used to overcome this
difficulty include the pinning of vortices by the incorporation of impurities
and defects, the construction of flux dams, slots and holes and magnetic
shields which block the penetration of new flux lines in the bulk of the SC or
reduce the magnetic field in the immediate vicinity of the superconducting
device. Naturally, the most desirable would be to remove the vortices from the
bulk of the SC. There is no known phenomenon, however, that could form the
basis for such a process. Here we show that the application of an ac current to
a SC that is patterned with an asymmetric pinning potential can induce vortex
motion whose direction is determined only by the asymmetry of the pattern. The
mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is the so called ratchet effect, and
its working principle applies to both low and high temperature SCs. As a first
step here we demonstrate that with an appropriate choice of the pinning
potential the ratchet effect can be used to remove vortices from low
temperature SCs in the parameter range required for various applications.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Nature (in press
Superconducting Fluxon Pumps and Lenses
We study stochastic transport of fluxons in superconductors by alternating
current (AC) rectification. Our simulated system provides a fluxon pump,
"lens", or fluxon "rectifier" because the applied electrical AC is transformed
into a net DC motion of fluxons. Thermal fluctuations and the asymmetry of the
ratchet channel walls induce this "diode" effect, which can have important
applications in devices, like SQUID magnetometers, and for fluxon optics,
including convex and concave fluxon lenses. Certain features are unique to this
novel two-dimensional (2D) geometric pump, and different from the previously
studied 1D ratchets.Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, in press (1999); 4 pages, 5 .gif figures;
figures also available at http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~nori/ratche
Toward physical realizations of thermodynamic resource theories
Conventional statistical mechanics describes large systems and averages over
many particles or over many trials. But work, heat, and entropy impact the
small scales that experimentalists can increasingly control, e.g., in
single-molecule experiments. The statistical mechanics of small scales has been
quantified with two toolkits developed in quantum information theory: resource
theories and one-shot information theory. The field has boomed recently, but
the theorems amassed have hardly impacted experiments. Can thermodynamic
resource theories be realized experimentally? Via what steps can we shift the
theory toward physical realizations? Should we care? I present eleven
opportunities in physically realizing thermodynamic resource theories.Comment: Publication information added. Cosmetic change
Myiasis in domestic cats: A global review
Myiasis is an infestation caused by larvae of Diptera in humans and other vertebrates. In domestic cats, Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), four dipteran families have been reported as agents of obligatory and facultative myiasis: Oestridae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae. Among agents of obligatory myiasis, the most frequent genus is Cuterebra Clark (Oestridae) and the most frequent species is Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Calliphoridae). Among the agents of facultative myiasis, the most frequent species is Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae). A survey of myiasis in cats reported in literature shows that the cases are distributed worldwide and linked to the geographical range of the dipteran species. Factors favouring the occurrence of myiasis in cats are prowling in infested areas, poor hygiene conditions due to diseases and/or neglect, and wounds inflicted during territorial or reproductive competition. The aim of the review is to provide an extended survey of literature on myiasis in cats, as general information and possible development of guidelines for veterinarians, entomologists and other researchers interested in the field
Hydrodynamic Coupling of Two Brownian Spheres to a Planar Surface
We describe direct imaging measurements of the collective and relative
diffusion of two colloidal spheres near a flat plate. The bounding surface
modifies the spheres' dynamics, even at separations of tens of radii. This
behavior is captured by a stokeslet analysis of fluid flow driven by the
spheres' and wall's no-slip boundary conditions. In particular, this analysis
reveals surprising asymmetry in the normal modes for pair diffusion near a flat
surface.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Stokes' Drift of linear Defects
A linear defect, viz. an elastic string, diffusing on a planar substrate
traversed by a travelling wave experiences a drag known as Stokes' drift. In
the limit of an infinitely long string, such a mechanism is shown to be
characterized by a sharp threshold that depends on the wave parameters, the
string damping constant and the substrate temperature. Moreover, the onset of
the Stokes' drift is signaled by an excess diffusion of the string center of
mass, while the dispersion of the drifting string around its center of mass may
grow anomalous.Comment: 14 pages, no figures, to be published in Phys.Rev.
Feynman's ratchet and pawl: an exactly solvable model
We introduce a simple, discrete model of Feynman's ratchet and pawl,
operating between two heat reservoirs. We solve exactly for the steady-state
directed motion and heat flows produced, first in the absence and then in the
presence of an external load. We show that the model can act both as a heat
engine and as a refrigerator. We finally investigate the behavior of the system
near equilibrium, and use our model to confirm general predictions based on
linear response theory.Comment: 19 pages + 10 figures; somewhat tighter presentatio
Quantum Ratchets
The concept of thermal ratchets is extended to the system governed by quantum
mechanics. We study a tight-binding model with an asymmetric periodic potential
contacting with a heat bath under an external oscillating field as a specific
example of quantum ratchet. Dynamics of a density operator of this system is
studied numerically by using the quantum Liouville equation. Finite net current
is found in the non-equilibrium steady state. The direction of the current
varies with parameters, in contrast with the classical thermal ratchets.Comment: 7 pages, Latex, 4 ps figures; No change in the text by this
replacement. only the figures are replaced with higher quality ones (but
smaller size
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