Active Brownian particles in a biased periodic potential

We study transport properties of an active Brownian particle with an Rayleigh-Helmholtz friction function in a biased periodic potential. In the absence of noise and depending on the parameters of the friction function and on the bias force, the motion of the particle can be in a locked state or in different running states. According to the type of solutions, the parameter plane of friction and bias force can be divided into four regions. In these different regimes, there is either only a locked state, only a running state, a bistability between locked and running states, or a bistability of two different running states (corresponding to a systematic motion to the left or right, respectively). In the presence of noise, the mean velocity depends in different ways on the noise intensity for the various parameter regimes. These dependences are explored by means of numerical simulations and simple analytical estimates for limiting cases.

Automated summary

We investigate the transport properties of an active Brownian particle under a biased periodic potential with a Rayleigh-Helmholtz friction function. Without noise, the particle's motion can be either locked or exhibit different types of running states depending on the parameters of the friction function and the bias force. The parameter plane of friction and bias force can be divided into four regions based on the type of solutions. In the presence of noise, the mean velocity shows different dependencies on the noise intensity in different parameter regimes. These dependencies are examined using numerical simulations and simple analytical estimates.