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Title: Fluctuation-driven directed transport in the presence of Levy flights

Journal Article · · Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. ORNL
  2. Institute for Theoretical Physics NSC KIPT, Kharkov, Ukraine

The role of Levy flights on fluctuation-driven transport in time independent periodic potentials with broken spatial symmetry is studied. Two complementary approaches are followed. The first one is based on a generalized Langevin model describing overdamped dynamics in a ratchet type external potential driven by Levy white noise with stability index {alpha} in the range 1 < {alpha} < 2. The second approach is based on the space fractional Fokker-Planck equation describing the corresponding probability density function (PDF) of particle displacements. It is observed that, even in the absence of an external tilting force or a bias in the noise, the Levy flights drive the system out of the thermodynamic equilibrium and generate an up-hill current (i.e., a current in the direction of the steeper side of the asymmetric potential). For small values of the noise intensity there is an optimal value of {alpha} yielding the maximum current. The direction and magnitude of the current can be manipulated by changing the Levy noise asymmetry and the potential asymmetry. For a sharply localized initial condition, the PDF of staying at the minimum of the potential exhibits scaling behavior in time with an exponent bigger than the -1/{alpha} exponent corresponding to the force free case.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1001271
Journal Information:
Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Vol. 387, Issue 27; ISSN 0378-4371
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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