Manipulating small particles in mixtures far from equilibrium

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Apr 23;92(16):160602. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.160602. Epub 2004 Apr 23.

Abstract

The motion of two interacting species of small particles, coupled differently to their environment, is studied both analytically and via numerical simulations. We find three ways of controlling the particle motion of one (passive) B species by means of another (active) A species: (i) dragging the target particles B by driving the auxiliary particles A, (ii) rectifying the motion of the B species on the asymmetric potential created by the A-B interactions, and (iii) dynamically modifying (pulsating) this potential by controlling the motion of the A particles. This allows easy control of the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the target particles by changing the ac drive(s).