Transport properties of particles and waves in spatially periodic structures
that are driven by external time-dependent forces manifestly depend on the
space-time symmetries of the corresponding equations of motion. A systematic
analysis of these symmetries uncovers the conditions necessary for obtaining
directed transport. In this work we give a unified introduction into the
symmetry analysis and demonstrate its action on the motion in one-dimensional
periodic, both in time and space, potentials. We further generalize the
analysis to quasi-periodic drivings, higher space dimensions, and quantum
dynamics. Recent experimental results on the transport of cold and ultracold
atomic ensembles in ac-driven optical potentials are reviewed as illustrations
of theoretical considerations.Comment: Phys. Rep., in pres