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Mirror symmetry breaking through an internal degree of freedom leading to directional motion

S. Cilla·F . Falo·L. M. Floria
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Abstract

We analyze here the minimal conditions for directional motion (net flow in phase space) of a molecular motor placed on a mirror-symmetric environment and driven by a center-symmetric and time-periodic force field. The complete characterization of the deterministic limit of the dissipative dynamics of several realizations of this minimal model, reveals a complex structure in the phase diagram in parameter space, with intertwined regions of pinning (closed orbits) and directional motion. This demonstrates that the mirror-symmetry breaking which is needed for directional motion to occur, can operate through an internal degree of freedom coupled to the translational one.

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S. Cilla, F . Falo, L. M. Floria. 2000-12-19. Mirror symmetry breaking through an internal degree of freedom leading to directional motion. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.63.031110

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