Chirality-induced rectification in asymmetric gear systems

Hui-zhang Xie () and Jin-ran Li
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Hui-zhang Xie: South China University of Technology
Jin-ran Li: South China Normal University

The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, 2025, vol. 98, issue 3, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract We investigate the emergence of unidirectional rotation in an asymmetric gear immersed in a chiral active particle bath under periodic boundary conditions. Our results demonstrate that the nonequilibrium characteristics of self-propelled particles can drive sustained rotational motion of the gear. The study reveals that both particle chirality and gear asymmetry independently induce symmetry breaking, which collectively leads to directed rotation. The rotational direction is determined by the interplay between these two factors, and we demonstrate that the direction can be reversed through systematic parameter control. Furthermore, we identify optimal parameter combinations of particle chirality and self-propulsion speed that maximize the gear’s rotational velocity. These findings provide fundamental insights into the control of active matter systems and offer practical guidelines for experimental designs that utilize chiral active matter to transform random motion into controlled directional movement. Graphic abstract The study investigates the emergence of directional rotation in an asymmetric gear immersed within a sea of chiral active particles under periodic boundary conditions. We demonstrate that the inherent nonequilibrium properties of these self-propelling particles can induce consistent gear rotation.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-025-00894-6

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