Ratchet behavior in nonlinear Klein-Gordon systems with pointlike inhomogeneities

Abstract

We investigate the ratchet dynamics of nonlinear Klein-Gordon kinks in a periodic, asymmetric lattice of pointlike inhomogeneities. We explain the underlying rectification mechanism within a collective coordinate framework, which shows that such a system behaves as a rocking ratchet for point particles. Careful attention is given to the kink width dynamics and its role in the transport. We also analyze the robustness of our kink rocking ratchet in the presence of noise. We show that the noise activates unidirectional motion in a parameter range where such motion is not observed in the noiseless case. This is subsequently corroborated by the collective variable theory. An explanation for this phenomenon is given.