Rectification of spatial disorder

TL;DR

This paper shows how a large group of coupled oscillators can spontaneously generate a current by rectifying spatial disorder, with the process depending on the pinning potential profile, and can also exhibit negative mobility under weak external drive.

Contribution

It introduces a collective dynamical phase transition mechanism enabling rectification of spatial disorder and negative mobility in coupled oscillators.

Findings

Spontaneous current arises through a phase transition mechanism.

Negative mobility occurs at the phase transition under weak external drive.

The nature of the phase transition depends on the pinning potential profile.

Abstract

We demonstrate that a large ensemble of noiseless globally coupled-pinned oscillators is capable of rectifying spatial disorder with spontaneous current activated through a dynamical phase transition mechanism, either of first or second order, depending on the profile of the pinning potential. In the presence of an external weak drive, the same collective mechanism can result in an absolute negative mobility, which, though not immediately related to symmetry breaking, is most prominent at the phase transition.