Controlling chaotic transport in two-dimensional periodic potentials

Abstract

We uncover and characterize different chaotic transport scenarios in perfect two-dimensional periodic potentials by controlling the chaotic dynamics of particles subjected to periodic external forces in the absence of a ratchet effect i.e., with no directed transport by symmetry breaking of zero-mean forces . After identifying relevant symmetries of the equations of motion, analytical estimates in parameter space for the occurrence of different transport scenarios are provided and confirmed by numerical simulations. These scenarios are highly sensitive to variations of the system’s asymmetry parameters, including the eccentricity of the two-dimensional periodic potential and the direction of dc and ac forces, which could be useful for particle sorting purposes in those cases where chaos is unavoidable