Dynamics of a Brownian particle in an asymmetric microchannel that is subjected to an external oscillating force is numerically analyzed. In addition to the elastic collisions with the walls that are kind of short range interactions, the long range hydrodynamic influences of the walls have been considered in an approximate way. We demonstrate how the geometrical parameters of the channel change the rectified current of the particle. As a result of numerical calculations, we show that long range hydrodynamic interactions with walls decrease the efficiency of the Brownian ratchet.

• Received 28 September 2014
• Revised 24 December 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.022101