Stochastic models of classical particle pumps : Density dependence of directed current

Abstract

We present and compare different versions of a simple particle pump-model that describes average directed current of repulsively interacting particles in a narrow channel, due to time-varying local potentials. We analyze the model on discrete lattice with particle exclusion, using three choices of potential-dependent hopping rates that obey microscopic reversibility. Treating the strength of the external potential as a small parameter with respect to thermal energy, we present a perturbative calculation to obtain the expression for average directed current. This depends on driving frequency, phase, and particle density. The directed current vanishes as density goes to zero or close packing. For two choices of hopping rates, it reaches maximum at intermediate densities, while for a third choice, it shows a curious current reversal with increasing density. This can be interpreted in terms of a particle-hole symmetry. Stochastic simulations of the model show good agreement with our analytic predictions.