title: Fluctuation-induced transport of two coupled particles: effect of the interparticle interaction.
abstract: We consider a system of two coupled particles fluctuating between two states, with different interparticle interaction potentials and particle friction coefficients. An external action drives the interstate transitions that induces reciprocating motion along the internal coordinate x (the interparticle distance). The system moves unidirectionally due to rectification of the internal motion by asymmetric friction fluctuations and thus operates as a dimeric motor that converts input energy into net movement. We focus on how the law of interaction between the particles affects the dimer transport and, in particular, the role of thermal noise in the motion inducing mechanism. It is argued that if the interaction potential behaves at large distances as x(α), depending on the value of the exponent α, the thermal noise plays a constructive (α > 2), neutral (α = 2), or destructive (α < 2) role. In the case of α = 1, corresponding piecewise linear potential profiles, an exact solution is obtained and discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yurii A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Makhnovskii
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Viktor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rozenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheh-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dah-Yen
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygin Street 4, Moscow 119991, Russia and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Institutskii per. 9, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region 141700, Russia.
authors.forename: Leonid I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Trakhtenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D004735:Energy Transfer; D017276:Friction; D009038:Motion; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions