Sine-Gordon dynamics in spin transport

We study spin transport in a one-dimensional finite-length wire connected to fermionic leads. The interacting wire is described by the sine-Gordon model while the leads are either noninteracting or interacting Luttinger liquids. We calculate the spin current driven by a spin bias in the nonlinear regime by solving numerically the classical equation of motion, and find that the cosine term in the sine-Gordon model gives rise to an oscillating spin current when the spin bias exceeds its critical value. We discuss the results in connection with transport experiments with ultracold atoms.