Directed transport in a spatially periodic harmonic potential under periodic nonbiased forcing

Transport of a particle in a spatially periodic harmonic potential under the influence of a slowly time-dependent unbiased periodic external force is studied. The equations of motion are the same as in the problem of a slowly forced nonlinear pendulum. Using methods of the adiabatic perturbation theory we show that for a periodic external force of a general kind the system demonstrates directed (ratchet) transport in the chaotic domain on very long time intervals and obtain a formula for the average velocity of this transport. Two cases are studied: The case of the external force of small amplitude, and the case of the external force with amplitude of order one. The obtained formulas can also be used in case of a nonharmonic periodic potential.