The grand canonical ABC model: a reflection asymmetric mean field Potts model

We investigate the phase diagram of a three-component system of particles on a one-dimensional filled lattice, or equivalently of a one-dimensional three-state Potts model, with reflection asymmetric mean field interactions. The three types of particles are designated as $A$, $B$, and $C$. The system is described by a grand canonical ensemble with temperature $T$ and chemical potentials $T\lambda_A$, $T\lambda_B$, and $T\lambda_C$. We find that for $\lambda_A=\lambda_B=\lambda_C$ the system undergoes a phase transition from a uniform density to a continuum of phases at a critical temperature $\hat T_c=(2\pi/\sqrt3)^{-1}$. For other values of the chemical potentials the system has a unique equilibrium state. As is the case for the canonical ensemble for this $ABC$ model, the grand canonical ensemble is the stationary measure satisfying detailed balance for a natural dynamics. We note that $\hat T_c=3T_c$, where $T_c$ is the critical temperature for a similar transition in the canonical ensemble at fixed equal densities $r_A=r_B=r_C=1/3$.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figure

Phase diagram of the ABC model with nonconserving processes

The three species ABC model of driven particles on a ring is generalized to include vacancies and particle-nonconserving processes. The model exhibits phase separation at high densities. For equal average densities of the three species, it is shown that although the dynamics is {\it local}, it obeys detailed balance with respect to a Hamiltonian with {\it long-range interactions}, yielding a nonadditive free energy. The phase diagrams of the conserving and nonconserving models, corresponding to the canonical and grand-canonical ensembles, respectively, are calculated in the thermodynamic limit. Both models exhibit a transition from a homogeneous to a phase-separated state, although the phase diagrams are shown to differ from each other. This conforms with the expected inequivalence of ensembles in equilibrium systems with long-range interactions. These results are based on a stability analysis of the homogeneous phase and exact solution of the hydrodynamic equations of the models. They are supported by Monte-Carlo simulations. This study may serve as a useful starting point for analyzing the phase diagram for unequal densities, where detailed balance is not satisfied and thus a Hamiltonian cannot be defined.Comment: 32 page, 7 figures. The paper was presented at Statphys24, held in Cairns, Australia, July 201

Multiple Core-Hole Coherence in X-Ray Four-Wave-Mixing Spectroscopies

Correlation-function expressions are derived for the coherent nonlinear response of molecules to three resonant ultrafast pulses in the x-ray regime. The ability to create two-core-hole states with controlled attosecond timing in four-wave-mixing and pump probe techniques should open up new windows into the response of valence electrons, which are not available from incoherent x-ray Raman and fluorescence techniques. Closed expressions for the necessary four-point correlation functions are derived for the electron-boson model by using the second order cumulant expansion to describe the fluctuating potentials. The information obtained from multidimensional nonlinear techniques could be used to test and refine this model, and establish an anharmonic oscillator picture for electronic excitations

Phase diagram of the ABC model with nonequal densities

The ABC model is a driven diffusive exclusion model, composed of three species of particles that hop on a ring with local asymmetric rates. In the weak asymmetry limit, where the asymmetry vanishes with the length of the system, the model exhibits a phase transition between a homogenous state and a phase separated state. We derive the exact solution for the density profiles of the three species in the hydrodynamic limit for arbitrary average densities. The solution yields the complete phase diagram of the model and allows the study of the nature of the first order phase transition found for average densities that deviate significantly from the equal densities point.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, submitted to J. Phys.

Ensemble Inequivalence and the Spin-Glass Transition

We report on the ensemble inequivalence in a many-body spin-glass model with integer spin. The spin-glass phase transition is of first order for certain values of the crystal field strength and is dependent whether it was derived in the microcanonical or the canonical ensemble. In the limit of infinitely many-body interactions, the model is the integer-spin equivalent of the random-energy model, and is solved exactly. We also derive the integer-spin equivalent of the de Almeida-Thouless line.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure

Fluctuations in Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics: Models, Mathematical Theory, Physical Mechanisms

The fluctuations in nonequilibrium systems are under intense theoretical and experimental investigation. Topical ``fluctuation relations'' describe symmetries of the statistical properties of certain observables, in a variety of models and phenomena. They have been derived in deterministic and, later, in stochastic frameworks. Other results first obtained for stochastic processes, and later considered in deterministic dynamics, describe the temporal evolution of fluctuations. The field has grown beyond expectation: research works and different perspectives are proposed at an ever faster pace. Indeed, understanding fluctuations is important for the emerging theory of nonequilibrium phenomena, as well as for applications, such as those of nanotechnological and biophysical interest. However, the links among the different approaches and the limitations of these approaches are not fully understood. We focus on these issues, providing: a) analysis of the theoretical models; b) discussion of the rigorous mathematical results; c) identification of the physical mechanisms underlying the validity of the theoretical predictions, for a wide range of phenomena.Comment: 44 pages, 2 figures. To appear in Nonlinearity (2007

Visual attention and action: How cueing, direct mapping, and social interactions drive orienting

Despite considerable interest in both action perception and social attention over the last 2 decades, there has been surprisingly little investigation concerning how the manual actions of other humans orient visual attention. The present review draws together studies that have measured the orienting of attention, following observation of another’s goal-directed action. Our review proposes that, in line with the literature on eye gaze, action is a particularly strong orienting cue for the visual system. However, we additionally suggest that action may orient visual attention using mechanisms, which gaze direction does not (i.e., neural direct mapping and corepresentation). Finally, we review the implications of these gaze-independent mechanisms for the study of attention to action. We suggest that our understanding of attention to action may benefit from being studied in the context of joint action paradigms, where the role of higher level action goals and social factors can be investigated