We experimentally investigate the phenomenon of a quantum ratchet created by
exposing a Bose-Einstein Condensate to short pulses of a potential which is
periodic in both space and time. Such a ratchet is manifested by a directed
current of particles, even though there is an absence of a net bias force. We
confirm a recent theoretical prediction [M. Sadgrove and S. Wimberger, New J.
Phys. \textbf{11}, 083027 (2009)] that the current direction can be controlled
by experimental parameters which leave the underlying symmetries of the system
unchanged. We demonstrate that this behavior can be understood using a single
variable containing many of the experimental parameters and thus the ratchet
current is describable using a single universal scaling law.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1210.565
