We show that a rich variety of dynamic phases can be realized for mono- and bidisperse mixtures of interacting colloids under the influence of a symmetric flashing periodic substrate. With the addition of dc or ac drives, phase locking, jamming, and new types of ratchet effects occur. In some regimes we find that the addition of a nonratcheting species increases the velocity of the ratcheting particles. We show that these effects occur due to the collective interactions of the colloids.

• Received 11 August 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.188301