Effect of correlated noise on quasi-1D diffusion

Single-file diffusion (SFD) of an infinite one-dimensional chain of interacting particles has a long-time mean-square displacement (MSD) ~t^1/2, independent of the type of inter-particle repulsive interaction. This behavior is also observed in finite-size chains, although only for certain intervals of time t depending on the chain length L, followed by the ~t for t->infinity, as we demonstrate for a closed circular chain of diffusing interacting particles. Here we show that spatial correlation of noise slows down SFD and can result, depending on the amount of correlated noise, in either subdiffusive behavior ~t^alpha, where 0<alpha<1/2, or even in a total suppression of diffusion (in the limit N-> infinity). Spatial correlation can explain the subdiffusive behavior in recent SFD experiments in circular channels.

The dynamics of colloids in a narrow channel driven by a non-uniform force

Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we investigate the dynamics of colloids confined in two-dimensional narrow channels driven by a non-uniform force F(y). We considered linear-gradient, parabolic and delta-like driving-force profiles. This driving force induces melting of the colloidal solid (i.e., shear-induced melting), and the colloidal motion experiences a transition from elastic to plastic regime with increasing F. For intermediate F (i.e., in the transition region) the response of the system, i.e., the distribution of the velocities of the colloidal chains, in general does not coincide with the profile of the driving force F(y), and depends on the magnitude of F, the width of the channel and the density of colloids. For example, we show that the onset of plasticity is first observed near the boundaries while the motion in the central region is elastic. This is explained by: (i) (in)commensurability between the chains due to the larger density of colloids near the boundaries, and (ii) the gradient in F. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the dynamics of colloids in channels and could be accessed in experiments on colloids (or in dusty plasma) with, e.g., asymmetric channels or in the presence of a gradient potential field.