Asymmetric drag in oscillatory motion: Ratchet effect without an asymmetric potential

Vladimir M. Fomin, Elliot J. Smith, Dmitriy D. Karnaushenko, Denys Makarov, and Oliver G. Schmidt

Phys. Rev. E 87, 052122 – Published 17 May 2013

Abstract

Asymmetry of magnetic objects in a fluid under an oscillating magnetic field leads to a wealth of nonequilibrium dynamics phenomena including a novel ratchet effect without an asymmetric substrate. These nonlinear dynamics are explained in the framework of the Stokes’ model by a drag coefficient, which depends on the direction of motion. This approach is general and is independent of the physical mechanism responsible for this directional dependence of the drag coefficient as well as the size of the object. The theoretical model is experimentally verified for two systems, a nonrigid magnetic microcoil and a chiral magnetic macroobject immersed in a bounded fluid.

Received 17 May 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.87.052122

Authors & Affiliations

Vladimir M. Fomin^1,*, Elliot J. Smith^1,2, Dmitriy D. Karnaushenko¹, Denys Makarov¹, and Oliver G. Schmidt^1,3

¹Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstrasse 20, 01069 Dresden, Germany
²Globalfoundries Inc., Wilschdorfer Landstrasse 101, 01109 Dresden, Germany
³Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Strasse 70, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany

^*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: v.fomin@ifw-dresden.de

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Issue

Vol. 87, Iss. 5 — May 2013

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covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics