333 research outputs found
Efficiency optimization in a correlation ratchet with asymmetric unbiased fluctuations
The efficiency of a Brownian particle moving in periodic potential in the
presence of asymmetric unbiased fluctuations is investigated. We found that
there is a regime where the efficiency can be a peaked function of temperature,
which proves that thermal fluctuations facilitate the efficiency of energy
transformation, contradicting the earlier findings (H. kamegawa et al. Phys.
Rev. Lett. 80 (1998) 5251). It is also found that the mutual interplay between
asymmetry of fluctuation and asymmetry of the potential may induce optimized
efficiency at finite temperature. The ratchet is not most efficiency when it
gives maximum current.Comment: 10 pages, 7 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
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.
Reliability of fluctuation-induced transport in a Maxwell-demon-type engine
We study the transport properties of an overdamped Brownian particle which is
simultaneously in contact with two thermal baths. The first bath is modeled by
an additive thermal noise at temperature . The second bath is associated
with a multiplicative thermal noise at temperature . The analytical
expressions for the particle velocity and diffusion constant are derived for
this system, and the reliability or coherence of transport is analyzed by means
of their ratio in terms of a dimensionless P\'{e}clet number. We find that the
transport is not very coherent, though one can get significantly higher
currents.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
Ratchet Effect in Surface Electromigration: Smoothing Surfaces by an ac Field
We demonstrate that for surfaces that have a nonzero Schwoebel barrier the
application of an ac field parallel to the surface induces a net electro-
migration current that points in the descending step direction. The magnitude
of the current is calculated analytically and compared with Monte Carlo
simulations. Since a downhill current smoothes the surface, our results imply
that the application of ac fields can aid the smoothing process during
annealing and can slow or eliminate the Schwoebel-barrier-induced mound
formation during growth.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, 4 ps figure
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
Brownian motion exhibiting absolute negative mobility
We consider a single Brownian particle in a spatially symmetric, periodic
system far from thermal equilibrium. This setup can be readily realized
experimentally. Upon application of an external static force F, the average
particle velocity is negative for F>0 and positive for F<0 (absolute negative
mobility).Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in PR
Disorder Induced Diffusive Transport In Ratchets
The effects of quenched disorder on the overdamped motion of a driven
particle on a periodic, asymmetric potential is studied. While for the
unperturbed potential the transport is due to a regular drift, the quenched
disorder induces a significant additional chaotic ``diffusive'' motion. The
spatio-temporal evolution of the statistical ensemble is well described by a
Gaussian distribution, implying a chaotic transport in the presence of quenched
disorder.Comment: 10 pages, 4 EPS figures; submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
Noise-assisted classical adiabatic pumping in a symmetric periodic potential
We consider a classical overdamped Brownian particle moving in a symmetric
periodic potential. We show that a net particle flow can be produced by
adiabatically changing two external periodic potentials with a spatial and a
temporal phase difference. The classical pumped current is found to be
independent of the friction and to vanish both in the limit of low and high
temperature. Below a critical temperature, adiabatic pumping appears to be more
efficient than transport due to a constant external force.Comment: six pages, 3 figure
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