Title: Kink ratchet in a two-state symmetric potential

Author: B Sánchez-Rey
with NR Quintero and J Casado-Pascual

Abstract: We present a simple model that exhibits kink ratchet dynamics using a symmetric periodic potential that alternates between two possible states. A symmetry analysis shows that the direction of motion depends sensitively on the duration of the two states so that we can reverse or cancel the energy flux adjusting those parameters. Numerical simulations also show interesting non-monotonous behaviors of the kink averaged velocity versus the system parameters. The system preserves both, symmetry properties and non-monotonous behaviors, when periodic switching between the two states is replaced by random fluctuations.

Ratchets in point-particle systems and in extended models: Mechanisms, control and applications . Poster.
Carmona (Sevilla), February 5-7, 2007