title: Optimizing the performance of the entropic splitter for particle separation.
abstract: Recently, it has been shown that entropy can be used to sort Brownian particles according to their size. In particular, a combination of a static and a time-dependent force applied on differently sized particles which are confined in an asymmetric periodic structure can be used to separate them efficiently, by forcing them to move in opposite directions. In this paper, we investigate the optimization of the performance of the "entropic splitter." Specifically, the splitting mechanism and how it depends on the geometry of the channel, and the frequency and strength of the periodic forcing is analyzed. Using numerical simulations, we demonstrate that a very efficient and fast separation with a practically 100% purity can be achieved by a proper optimization of the control variables. The results of this work could be useful for a more efficient separation of dispersed phases such as DNA fragments or colloids dependent on their size.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Motz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hänggi
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física Fonamental, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reguera
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física Fonamental, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rubí
mesh_terms: D019277:Entropy; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009038:Motion; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010316:Particle Size