Phase synchronization in bi-directionally coupled chaotic ratchets

We show the existence of phase synchronization in bi-directionally coupled deterministic chaotic ratchets. The coupled ratchets were simulated in their chaotic states. A transition from a regime where the phases rotate with different velocities to a synchronous state where the phase difference is bounded was observed as the coupling was increased. In addition, the region of synchronization in which the system is permanently phase locked was identified. In this regime, the transverse Lyapunov exponent corresponding to both phases remain positive. Our calculations show that the transition to a synchronized state occurs via a crisis transition to an attractor filling the whole phase space.