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Research in the Linke Lab
Our research deals with ratchet phenomena: the interplay of spatial asymmetry and thermal nonequilibrium to create directed motion. We pursue experimental and numerical studies in the following areas.
 Thermoelectric materials convert heat directly into electrical energy. Efficient thermoelectrics would have substantial economic and environmental potential. We recently predicted that the thermoelectric efficiency of carefully designed nanowires can approach the Carnot value at low temperatures. This project seeks to test these theoretical predictions in experiments with single, group III-V heterostructured semiconductor nanowires. We are also interested in the symmetry of electron transport in so-called electron billiards in the nonlinear voltage regime, and in finite magnetic field. One project studies the breakdown of the Onsager-Casimir relations.
Molecular motors are protein assemblies that perform mechanical tasks in living cells, such as transporting, pumping, or pushing. We develop experimental as well as numerical models that may help to understand the way molecular motors operate. Animations are available.
Water droplets placed in a very hot pan are known to perform a "dance" because a lubricating vapor layer allows them to move about in a random fashion. We recently discovered that this motion can be controlled by using asymmetric surface topology, and heat can be used accelerate droplets at a substantial rate. High-speed movie clips are available.
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