Single File Diffusion of particles with long ranged interactions: damping and finite size effects

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamics of particles in a single file with long-range interactions, revealing new behaviors in small systems and damping regimes through simulations and normal mode analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis based on normal modes to explain diverse dynamic regimes in single file diffusion with long-range interactions and damping.

Findings

Identification of new behaviors in small particle systems

Normal mode analysis explains observed dynamic regimes

Estimation of crossover times between regimes

Abstract

We study the Single File Diffusion (SFD) of a cyclic chain of particles that cannot cross each other, in a thermal bath, with long ranged interactions, and arbitrary damping. We present simulations that exhibit new behaviors specifically associated to systems of small number of particles and to small damping. In order to understand those results, we present an original analysis based on the decomposition of the particles motion in the normal modes of the chain. Our model explains all dynamic regimes observed in our simulations, and provides convincing estimates of the crossover times between those regimes.