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 phase difference $\phi$ in time and χ in space. 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.

• Received 16 April 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.66.021111