Sorting by Resetting

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel sorting paradigm using resetting of velocity or orientation of particles, demonstrating how stochastic resetting can enable sorting tasks impossible at thermodynamic equilibrium.

Contribution

It presents a new sorting method based on resetting particle velocities or orientations, expanding the applications of stochastic resetting in non-equilibrium systems.

Findings

Resetting can achieve sorting by altering particle velocities or orientations.

Stochastic resetting creates non-equilibrium conditions enabling new sorting capabilities.

The scheme applies to suspended Brownian particles with spatial extension.

Abstract

A novel paradigm for sorting is introduced, based upon resetting. Using simple examples, we demonstrate that sorting is achieved by resetting the velocity component(s) or orientation of the particles, rather than position. The objects to be sorted are microparticles, modeled as suspended and spatially extended Brownian particles. This sorting-by-resetting scheme illustrates that stochastic resetting can create non-equilibrium conditions which enable tasks forbidden at thermodynamic equilibrium.