We analyze the scattering of the classical sine-Gordon breathers on a square potential well. We show that the scattering process depends not only on the vibration frequency of the breather and its incoming speed but also on its phase as well as the depth and width of the well. We show that the breather can pass through the well and exit with a speed different, sometimes larger, from the initial one. It can also be trapped and very slowly decay inside the well or bounce out of the well and go back to where it came from. We also show that the breather can split into a kink–antikink pair when it hits the well.

• Received 17 November 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.046603