Rupture and healing of one-dimensional chains in a parametric magnetic ratchet potential

Transverse paramagnetic particle chains parametrically driven by a magnetic ratchet potential rupture and heal upon collision with an obstacle. The overdamped transverse dynamics is frozen during the time the particles stay in the ratchet potential wells and kicked during the time the particles hop to the next well. On time scales large compared to the parametric modulation period the healing of the hole in the chain is determined by dipolar repulsion and hydrodynamic friction of the paramagnetic particles.