Glassy Ratchets for Collectively Interacting Particles
arXiv:cond-mat/0308097 · doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2005.05.031
Abstract
We show that ratchet effects can occur in a glassy media of interacting particles where there is no quenched substrate. We consider simulations of a disordered binary assembly of colloids in which only one species responds to a drive. We apply an asymmetric ac drive that would produce no net dc drift of an isolated overdamped particle. When interacting particles are present, the asymmetric ac drive produces a ratchet effect. A simple model captures many of the results from simulations, including flux reversals as a function of density and temperature.
4 pages, 4 postscript figures