Absolute negative mobility and current reversals of a meandering Brownian particle

The Brownian motion of a single, classical particle, meandering in a zigzag-shaped, two-dimensional potential pipeline is addressed. When driven away from thermal equilibrium by an unbiased, alternating force of moderate frequency, the particle exhibits the phenomenon of absolute negative mobility. Two competing physical mechanisms governing the effect are identified, giving rise to the possibility of an even more intriguing, new response behavior, such as the occurrence of multiple current reversals. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.