Absolute Transverse Mobility and Ratchet Effect on Periodic 2D Symmetric Substrates

TL;DR

This paper explores how an overdamped particle on a symmetric 2D periodic substrate exhibits absolute transverse mobility and ratchet effects under combined dc and ac drives, revealing novel transport phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model demonstrating absolute transverse mobility and ratchet effects without asymmetric substrates or forces.

Findings

Finite dc force induces net transverse response

Ratchet effect occurs without dc drive

Transport phenomena depend on drive regimes

Abstract

We present a simple model of an overdamped particle moving on a two dimensional symmetric periodic substrate with a dc drive in the longitudinal direction and additional ac drives in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. For certain regimes we find that a finite longitudinal dc force produces a net dc response only in the transverse direction, which we term absolute transverse mobility. Additionally we find regimes exhibiting a ratchet effect in the absence of an applied dc drive.