Fluctuation Induced Drift and Current Reversal in Symmetric Potentials

Abstract

We explore the motion of a classical particle in a symmetric potential with non-Gaussian skewed white noise. We show analytically and numerically that the presence of nonzero odd moments leads to a macroscopic current. For a noise with a vanishing third moment we find that the current changes sign as the potential or the noise strength is increased. Possible physical situations are discussed including motor-protein motion and driven systems like fluidized beds.