https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2008-10421-5
Regular Article
Dumbbell transport and deflection in a spatially periodic potential
Theoretische Physik I, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440, Bayreuth, Germany
* e-mail: jochen.bammert@uni-bayreuth.de
** e-mail: walter.zimmermann@uni-bayreuth.de
Received:
3
September
2008
Revised:
9
January
2009
Accepted:
12
January
2009
Published online:
6
February
2009
We present theoretical results on the deterministic and stochastic motion of a dumbbell carried by a uniform flow through a three-dimensional spatially periodic potential. Depending on parameters like the flow velocity, there are two different kinds of movement: transport along a potential valley and a stair-like motion oblique to the potential trenches. The crossover between these two regimes, as well as the deflection angle, depend on the size of the dumbbell. Moreover, thermal fluctuations cause a resonance-like variation in the deflection angle as a function of the dumbbell extension.
PACS: 47.61.-k Micro- and nano- scale flow phenomena – / 05.40.-a Fluctuation phenomena, random processes, noise, and Brownian motion – / 05.60.Cd Classical transport –
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2009
