Ratchet Effect and Current Reversal in an Underdamped Inhomogeneous Periodic Potential System

This work investigates the stochastic dynamics of particles in an underdamped periodic potential system with spatially varying friction. The system demonstrates ratchet effect, where particles exhibit directed motion without any obvious external bias, utilizing energy from random fluctuations. The particles also are able to work againsts an externally applied load. Notably, the particles display current reversals for optimum range of parameters. These phenomena are characterized and analyzed, highlighting their dependence on the different system parameters. Theese findings can have significant implications for micro - and nanoscale applications, such as particle separation and transport in microfluidic devices.