Out-of-equilibrium Frenkel–Kontorova model

A 1D model of interacting particles moving over a periodic substrate and in position dependent temperature profile is considered. When the are spatially asymmetric center-of-mass velocity develops, corresponding to directed transport chain. This autonomous system can thus transform heath currents into motion. The parameters be tuned such that exhibit crossover from an ordered configuration on disordered one, maximal motor effect being reached phase. In this case manybody outperforms single system, showing great importance collective effects microscopic thermal devices. Such represent free resource exploited enhance dynamic thermodynamic performances machines.