Current reversals in a rocking ratchet: the frequency domain

TL;DR

This paper investigates how current reversals in rocking ratchets are influenced by drive frequency, revealing that dissipation-induced symmetry breaking precisely determines these reversals, thus extending understanding of dynamical and symmetry mechanisms.

Contribution

It demonstrates that dissipation-induced symmetry breaking governs current reversals in the frequency domain, generalizing previous findings on dynamical mechanisms in rocking ratchets.

Findings

Current reversals are linked to dissipation-induced symmetry breaking.

The relationship between frequency and current direction is clarified.

Experimental and theoretical results confirm the symmetry-breaking mechanism.

Abstract

Motivated by recent work [D. Cubero et al., Phys. Rev. E 82, 041116 (2010)], we examine the mechanisms which determine current reversals in rocking ratchets as observed by varying the frequency of the drive. We found that a class of these current reversals in the frequency domain are precisely determined by dissipation-induced symmetry breaking. Our experimental and theoretical work thus extends and generalizes the previously identified relationship between dynamical and symmetry-breaking mechanisms in the generation of current reversals.