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arXiv · cond-mat/0510135

Surmounting Barriers: The Benefit of Hydrodynamic Interactions

Christoph Lutz·Michael Reichert·Holger Stark·Clemens Bechinger
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Abstract

We experimentally and theoretically investigate the collective behavior of three colloidal particles that are driven by a constant force along a toroidal trap. Due to hydrodynamic interactions, a characteristic limit cycle is observed. When we additionally apply a periodic sawtooth potential, we find a novel caterpillar-like motional sequence that is dominated by hydrodynamic interactions and promotes the surmounting of potential barriers by the particles.

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Christoph Lutz, Michael Reichert, Holger Stark, Clemens Bechinger. 2005-10-06. Surmounting Barriers: The Benefit of Hydrodynamic Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1209/epl%2Fi2006-10017-9

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