Single-file diffusion of particles with long-range interactions: Damping and finite-size effects

Abstract

We study the single file diffusion of a cyclic chain of particles that cannot cross each other, in a thermal bath, with long-ranged interactions and arbitrary damping. We present simulations that exhibit new behaviors specifically associated with systems of small numbers of particles and with small damping. In order to understand those results, we present an original analysis based on the decomposition of the particles' motion in the normal modes of the chain. Our model explains all dynamic regimes observed in our simulations and provides convincing estimates of the crossover times between those regimes. © 2011 American Physical Society.