English

Voltage rectification by a SQUID ratchet

Condensed Matter 2009-10-28 v2

Abstract

We argue that the phase across an asymmetric dc SQUID threaded by a magnetic flux can experience an effective ratchet (periodic and asymmetric) potential. Under an external ac current, a rocking ratchet mechanism operates whereby one sign of the time derivative of the phase is favored. We show that there exists a range of parameters in which a fixed sign (and, in a narrower range, even a fixed value) of the average voltage across the ring occurs, regardless of the sign of the external current dc component.

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9605171,
  title  = {Voltage rectification by a SQUID ratchet},
  author = {Ivar Zapata and Roland Bartussek and Fernando Sols and Peter Hänggi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9605171},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

4 pages, 4 EPS figures, uses psfig.sty. Revised version, to appear in Physical Review Letters (26 August 1996)