Ground state, vibrational spectrum and deterministic transport of a chain of charged particles

We study the equilibrium, oscillatory and transport properties of a chain of charged particles which interact with each other via the Coulomb and power-like repulsive interactions. Exact, analytical expressions for the energy of the ground state, interparticle distances, and vibration spectrum are derived, and the stability criterion for a chain with equidistant particles is established. We also consider the phenomenon of deterministic transport of a chain in a ratchet potential subject to a longitudinal alternating electric field.