Directed transport of atoms in a Hamiltonian quantum ratchet

Analysis of interface conversion processes of ballistic and diffusive motion in driven superlattices

We explore the nonequilibrium dynamics of noninteracting classical particles in a one-dimensional driven superlattice which is composed of domains exposed to different time-dependent forces. It is shown how the combination of directed transport and conversion processes from diffusive to ballistic motion causes strong correlations between velocity and phase for particles passing through a superlattice. A detailed understanding of the underlying mechanism allows us to tune the resulting velocity distributions at distinguished points in the superlattice by means of local variations of the applied driving force. As an intriguing application we present a scheme how initially diffusive particles can be transformed into a monoenergetic pulsed particle beam whose parameters such as its energy can be varied.

Quantum isoperiodic stable structures and directed transport

It has been recently found that the so-called isoperiodic stable structures (ISSs) have a fundamental role in the classical current behavior of dissipative ratchets [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 234101 (2011).]. Here I analyze their quantum counterparts, the quantum ISSs (QISSs), which have a fundamental role in the quantum current behavior. QISSs have the simple attractor shape of those ISSs which settle down in short times. However, in the majority of the cases they are strongly different from the ISSs, looking approximately the same as the quantum chaotic attractors that are at their vicinity in parameter space. By adding thermal fluctuations of the size of ħ(eff) to the ISSs I am able to obtain very good approximations to the QISSs. I conjecture that in general, quantum chaotic attractors could be well approximated by means of just the classical information of a neighboring ISS plus thermal fluctuations. I expect to find this behavior in quantum dissipative systems in general.

Origin of multiplexing capabilities of multifrequency magnetic ratchets

Through a combination of theory, numerical simulation, and experiment, we investigate the motion of magnetic beads on the surface of a magnetic ratchet driven by multifrequency fields. Here, we focus on the influence of static forcing terms, which were not included in previous models, and we derive analytical models that show why the static forcing terms are responsible for inducing beads of two different sizes to move in opposite directions on the same ratchet potential. We begin our analysis with the simplest possible forcing model, and we show that the main effect of the static forcing terms is to delay the phase of flux reversal. From there, we move onto the full analysis and theoretically derive the phase range for which opposite motion among two different bead types is achieved. Based on these theoretical results, we conduct experimental investigations that explore the effects of bead size and static forcing coefficient on the direction of bead motion, which confirm most of the expected trends. These results shed light both on past experimental work both by ourselves and others, as well as elucidate the more general multiplexing capabilities of ratchets.

Photonic ratchet superlattices by optical multiplexing

We present a method based on incremental holographic multiplexing to create a refractive index ratchet distribution into a photorefractive crystal as an example for the generation principle of such complex multiperiodic lattices. The implemented technique follows a finite optical series expansion of the desired index modulation. To analyze the induced lattice, we determine the phase retardation of a probe beam at the back face of the crystal by digital holography analysis. Our result depicts a first example to optically explore the fascinating phenomena of ratchet resembling systems.

Multiplexing superparamagnetic beads driven by multi-frequency ratchets

Here, we explore the single particle dynamics of superparamagnetic beads exposed to multifrequency ratchets. Through a combination of theory, simulation, and experiment, we determine the important tuning parameters that can be used to implement multiplexed separation of polydisperse colloidal mixtures. In particular, our results demonstrate that the ratio of driving frequencies controls the transition between open and closed trajectories that allow particles to be transported across a substrate. We also demonstrate that the phase difference between the two frequencies controls not only the direction of motion but also which particles are allowed to move within a polydisperse mixture. These results represent a fundamentally different approach to colloidal separation than the previous methods which are based on controlling transitions between phase-locked and phase-slipping regimes, and have a higher degree of multiplexing capabilities that can benefit the fields of biological separation and sensing as well as provide crucial insights into general ratchet behavior.

Mapping the Arnold web with a graphic processing unit

The Arnold diffusion constitutes a dynamical phenomenon which may occur in the phase space of a non-integrable Hamiltonian system whenever the number of the system degrees of freedom is M ≥ 3. The diffusion is mediated by a web-like structure of resonance channels, which penetrates the phase space and allows the system to explore the whole energy shell. The Arnold diffusion is a slow process; consequently, the mapping of the web presents a very time-consuming task. We demonstrate that the exploration of the Arnold web by use of a graphic processing unit-supercomputer can result in distinct speedups of two orders of magnitude as compared with standard CPU-based simulations.

Weak-chaos ratchet accelerator

Classical Hamiltonian systems with a mixed phase space and some asymmetry may exhibit chaotic ratchet effects. The most significant such effect is a directed momentum current or acceleration. In known model systems, this effect may arise only for sufficiently strong chaos. In this paper, a Hamiltonian ratchet accelerator is introduced, featuring a momentum current for arbitrarily weak chaos. The system is a realistic, generalized kicked rotor and is exactly solvable to some extent, leading to analytical expressions for the momentum current. While this current arises also for relatively strong chaos, the maximal current is shown to occur, at least in one case, precisely in a limit of arbitrarily weak chaos.

Experimental control of transport and current reversals in a deterministic optical rocking ratchet

We present an experimental demonstration of a deterministic optical rocking ratchet. A periodic and asymmetric light pattern is created to interact with dielectric microparticles in water, giving rise to a ratchet potential. The sample is moved with respect to the pattern with an unbiased time-periodic rocking function, which tilts the potential in alternating opposite directions. We obtain a current of particles whose direction can be controlled in real time and show that particles of different sizes may experience opposite currents. Moreover, we observed current reversals as a function of the magnitude and period of the rocking force.

Directed transport with real-time steering and drifts along predesigned paths using a Brownian motor

We have realized real-time steering of the directed transport in a Brownian motor based on cold atoms in optical lattices and demonstrate drifts along predesigned paths. The transport is induced by spatiotemporal asymmetries in the system, where we can control the spatial part, and we show that the response to changes in asymmetry is very fast. In addition to directional steering, a real-time control of the magnitude of the average drift velocity and an on-off switching of the motor are also demonstrated. We use a noninvasive real-time detection of the transport, enabling feedback control of the system.

Environmental stability of quantum chaotic ratchets

The transitory and stationary behavior of a quantum chaotic ratchet consisting of a biharmonic potential under the effect of different drivings in contact with a thermal environment is studied. For weak forcing and finite ℏ, we identify a strong dependence of the current on the structure of the chaotic region. Moreover, we have determined the robustness of the current against thermal fluctuations in the very weak coupling regime. In the case of strong forcing, the current is determined by the shape of a chaotic attractor. In both cases the temperature quickly stabilizes the ratchet, but in the latter it also destroys the asymmetry responsible for the current generation. Finally, applications to isomerization reactions are discussed.

Dynamics of kicked particles in a double-barrier structure

We study the classical and quantum dynamics of periodically kicked particles placed initially within an open double-barrier structure. This system does not obey the Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser (KAM) theorem and displays chaotic dynamics. The phase-space features induced by non-KAM nature of the system lead to dynamical features such as the nonequilibrium steady state, classically induced saturation of energy growth and momentum filtering. We also comment on the experimental feasibility of this system as well as its relevance in the context of current interest in classically induced localization and chaotic ratchets.

Inducing transport in a dissipation-free lattice with super Bloch oscillations

Particles in a perfect lattice potential perform Bloch oscillations when subject to a constant force, leading to localization and preventing conductivity. For a weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate of Cs atoms, we observe giant center-of-mass oscillations in position space with a displacement across hundreds of lattice sites when we add a periodic modulation to the force near the Bloch frequency. We study the dependence of these "super" Bloch oscillations on lattice depth, modulation amplitude, and modulation frequency and show that they provide a means to induce linear transport in a dissipation-free lattice.

Directed transport and localization in phase-modulated driven lattices

We explore the dynamics of noninteracting particles loaded into a phase-modulated one-dimensional lattice formed by laterally oscillating square barriers. Tuning the parameters of the driven unit cell of the lattice selected parts of the classical phase space can be manipulated in a controllable manner. We find superdiffusion in position space for all parameters regimes. A directed current of an ensemble of particles can be created through locally breaking the spatiotemporal symmetries of the time-driven potential. Magnitude and direction of the current are tunable. Several mechanisms for transient localization and trapping of particles in different wells of the driven unit cell are presented and analyzed.