Enhanced diffusion in soft-walled channels with a periodically varying curvature

Abstract

In one-dimension, the diffusion of particles along a line is slowed by the addition of energy barriers. The same is true in two-dimensions, provided that the confining channel in which the particles move doesn't change shape. However, if the shape changes then this is no longer necessarily true; adding energy barriers can enhance the rate of diffusion, and even restore free diffusion. We explore these effects for a channel with a sinusoidally varying curvature.