Active elastic dimers: self-propulsion and current reversal on a\n featureless track

2007/08/14 by Kumar, K. Vijay, Sriraṁ Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Sriram +2 · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Biomolecules (q-bio.BM) #Diffusion and Search Dynamics #FOS: Biological sciences #FOS: Physical sciences #Micro and Nano Robotics #Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0708.1802

openalex publication_date 2007/08/14 · openalex created_date 2019/12/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We present a Brownian inchworm model of a self-propelled elastic dimer in the\nabsence of an external potential. Nonequilibrium noise together with a\nstretch-dependent damping form the propulsion mechanism. Our model connects\nthree key nonequilibrium features -- position-velocity correlations, a nonzero\nmean internal force, and a drift velocity. Our analytical results, including\nstriking current reversals, compare very well with numerical simulations. The\nmodel unifies the propulsion mechanisms of DNA helicases, polar rods on a\nvibrated surface, crawling keratocytes and Myosin VI. We suggest experimental\nrealizations and tests of the model.\n

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