5 research outputs found
Dynamical transitions in correlated driven diffusion in a periodic potential
The diffusion of a two-dimensional array of particles driven by a constant
force in the presence of a periodic external potential exhibits a hierarchy of
dynamical phase transitions when the driving force is varied. This behavior can
be explained by a simple phenomenological approach which reduces the system of
strongly interacting particles to weakly interacting quasi-particles (kinks).
The richness of the strongly coupled system is however not lost because,
contrary to a single-Brownian particle, the array shows an hysteretic behavior
even at non-zero temperature. The present investigation can be viewed as a
first step toward understanding nanotribology.Comment: 4 pages, 3 pictures, revtex to appear in Phys Rev. Let