Directed molecular transport in an oscillating symmetric channel.

A mechanism responsible for the directed transport and molecular separation in a symmetric channel is proposed. We found that under the action of spatial harmonic oscillations of the channel, the system exhibits a directed transport in either direction, presenting multiple current reversals as the amplitude and/or frequency of the oscillations are varied. The particles of different masses may be forced to move with different velocities in the same or in the opposite directions by properly adjusting driving parameters. The directed transport can be produced in both directions even in the absence of thermal noise; the latter can speed up or slow down the transport depending on the system parameters.