Approaching the perfect diode limit through a nonlinear interface.

We consider a system formed by two different segments of particles, coupled to thermal baths, one at each end, modeled by Langevin thermostats. The particles in each segment interact harmonically and are subject to an on-site potential for which three different types are considered, namely, harmonic, ϕ^{4}, and Frenkel-Kontorova. The two segments are nonlinearly coupled, between interfacial particles, by means of a power-law potential with exponent μ, which we vary, scanning from subharmonic to superharmonic potentials, up to the infinite-square-well limit (μ→∞).