title: Atomic scale engines: cars and wheels.
abstract: We introduce a new approach to build microscopic engines on the atomic scale that move translationally or rotationally and can perform useful functions such as the pulling of a cargo. Characteristic of these engines is the possibility to determine dynamically the directionality of the motion. The approach is based on the transformation of the fed energy to directed motion through a dynamical competition between the intrinsic lengths of the moving object and the supporting carrier.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urbakh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klafter