Partial synchronisation of stochastic oscillators through hydrodynamic coupling

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how hydrodynamic coupling induces partial synchronization between stochastic oscillators in a bistable optical potential, revealing higher mobility pathways that facilitate barrier crossing.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental setup using holographic optical tweezers to study hydrodynamic coupling effects on stochastic oscillators.

Findings

Hydrodynamic coupling causes partial synchronization.

Emergence of higher mobility pathways.

Facilitated barrier crossing in coupled systems.

Abstract

Holographic optical tweezers are used to construct a static bistable optical potential energy landscape where a Brownian particle experiences restoring forces from two nearby optical traps and undergoes thermally activated transitions between the two energy minima. Hydrodynamic coupling between two such systems results in their partial synchronisation. This is interpreted as an emergence of higher mobility pathways, along which it is easier to overcome barriers to structural rearrangement.