Persistent current by a static non-Hermitian ratchet

TL;DR

This paper introduces a static non-Hermitian ratchet scheme to generate persistent currents in driven-dissipative systems without dynamic driving, using a tailored loss-rate profile that breaks symmetry.

Contribution

It presents a novel static ratchet approach for persistent current generation in non-Hermitian systems, verified through models and feasible for exciton-polariton condensates.

Findings

Persistent current can be generated without dynamic drive.

The scheme is verified by discrete and continuous models.

Experimental feasibility in semiconductor microcavities is demonstrated.

Abstract

We propose a scheme to generate a persistent current in driven-dissipative systems which can be described by the generalized Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation. Our proposal consists of fabricating a rachet-potential shape of the loss-rate profile, which simultaneously breaks the time-reversal and parity-inversion symmetry. Unlike existing schemes to generate a current using a rachet potential in Hermitian systems, no dynamic drive is needed. The basic physics of our scheme is discussed by a simple discrete driven-dissipative GP model, and the results are also verified by a realistic continuous model. Furthermore, we demonstrate the experimental feasibility of our scheme to generate the persistent current in exciton-polariton condensates in a semiconductor microcavity.