Stationary state in Brownian systems with Lorentz force
Abstract
In systems with overdamped dynamics, the Lorentz force reduces the diffusivity of a Brownian particle in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. The anisotropy in diffusion implies that the Fokker-Planck equation for the probability distribution of the particle acquires a tensorial coefficient. The tensor, however, is not a typical diffusion tensor due to the antisymmetric elements, which account for the fact that Lorentz force curves the trajectory of a moving charged particle. This gives rise to unusual dynamics with features such as additional Lorentz fluxes and a nontrivial density distribution, unlike a diffusive system. The equilibrium properties are, however, unaffected by the Lorentz force. Here we show that by stochastically resetting the Brownian particle, a nonequilibrium steady state can be created that preserves the hallmark features of dynamics under Lorentz force. We then consider a minimalistic example of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field, which shows how Lorentz fluxes fundamentally alter the boundary conditions giving rise to an unusual stationary state.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Research
- Pub Date:
- June 2020
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2004.04471
- Bibcode:
- 2020PhRvR...2b3381A
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics;
- Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. Research 2, 023381 (2020)