Lissajous rocking ratchet

Abstract

Breaking time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in the absence of a net bias can give rise to directed steady-state non-equilibrium transport phenomena such as ratchet effects. Here we present, theoretically and experimentally, the concept of a Lissajous rocking ratchet as an instrument based on breaking TRS. Our system is a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) with periodically modulated dot-lead tunnel barriers. Broken TRS gives rise to single electron tunneling current. Its direction is fully controlled by exploring frequency and phase relations between the two barrier modulations. The concept of Lissajous ratchets can be realized in a large variety of different systems, including nano-electrical, nano-electromechanical or superconducting circuits. It promises applications based on a detailed on-chip comparison of radio-frequency signals.

References in corpus (8)

• Artificial Brownian motors: Controlling transport on the nanoscale
• Driven quantum transport on the nanoscale
• Single-parameter non-adiabatic quantized charge pumping
• A double-dot quantum ratchet driven by an independently biased quantum point contact
• Characterization of Qubit Dephasing by Landau-Zener Interferometry
• Resonance approximation and charge loading/unloading in adiabatic quantum pumping
• Shot noise control in ac-driven nanoscale conductors
• Rectification in mesoscopic AC-gated semiconductor devices

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Landau-Zener interference at bichromatic driving
• Spectral properties of stochastic resonance in quantum transport
• Collective Dynamics and Defect Generation for Wigner Crystal Ratchets
• Skyrmion Pinball and Directed Motion on Obstacle Arrays
• Generic shape of multichromatic resonance peaks
• Field effect induced mesoscopic devices in depleted two dimensional electron systems