Scaling regimes and critical dimensions in the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang problem

We study the scaling regimes for the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation with noise correlator R(q) ~ (1 + w q^{-2 \rho}) in Fourier space, as a function of \rho and the spatial dimension d. By means of a stochastic Cole-Hopf transformation, the critical and correction-to-scaling exponents at the roughening transition are determined to all orders in a (d - d_c) expansion. We also argue that there is a intriguing possibility that the rough phases above and below the lower critical dimension d_c = 2 (1 + \rho) are genuinely different which could lead to a re-interpretation of results in the literature.Comment: Latex, 7 pages, eps files for two figures as well as Europhys. Lett. style files included; slightly expanded reincarnatio

Drived diffusion of vector fields

A model for the diffusion of vector fields driven by external forces is proposed. Using the renormalization group and the $\epsilon$-expansion, the dynamical critical properties of the model with gaussian noise for dimensions below the critical dimension are investigated and new transport universality classes are obtained.Comment: 11 pages, title changed, anisotropic diffusion further discussed and emphasize

Pulmonary giant cells and their significance for the diagnosis of asphyxiation

This study was performed to prove whether the detection of polynuclear giant cells in lungs is useful for the diagnosis of asphyxiation due to throttling or strangulation. Therefore, lung specimens of 54 individuals with different natural and unnatural causes of death were investigated. In most lungs examined numerous alveolar macrophages with 1-2 nuclei were found. Polynuclear giant cells, which were arbitrarily defined as alveolar macrophages containing 3 or more nuclei, were observed in all groups investigated except in the cases of hypoxia due to covering the head with plastic bags. Apparent differences between the other groups in particular an increased number in cases of throttling or strangulation, could not be observed. Immunohistochemical investigations confirmed the hypothesis that the observed polynuclear giant cells were derived from alveolar macrophages. The immunohistochemical analysis of the proliferation marker antigen Ki 67 revealed no positive reaction in the nuclei of polynuclear giant cells indicating that these cells had not developed shortly before death by endomitosis as an adaptative change following reduction in oxygen supply. The results provide evidence that the detection of pulmonary polynuclear giant cells cannot be used as a practical indicator for death by asphyxiation due to throttling or strangulation

Renormalized field theory and particle density profile in driven diffusive systems with open boundaries

We investigate the density profile in a driven diffusive system caused by a plane particle source perpendicular to the driving force. Focussing on the case of critical bulk density $\bar{c}$ we use a field theoretic renormalization group approach to calculate the density $c(z)$ as a function of the distance from the particle source at first order in $\epsilon=2-d$ ($d$: spatial dimension). For $d=1$ we find reasonable agreement with the exact solution recently obtained for the asymmetric exclusion model. Logarithmic corrections to the mean field profile are computed for $d=2$ with the result $c(z)-\bar{c} \sim z^{-1} (\ln(z))^{2/3}$ for $z \rightarrow \infty$.Comment: 32 pages, RevTex, 4 Postscript figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Fresh look at randomly branched polymers

We develop a new, dynamical field theory of isotropic randomly branched polymers, and we use this model in conjunction with the renormalization group (RG) to study several prominent problems in the physics of these polymers. Our model provides an alternative vantage point to understand the swollen phase via dimensional reduction. We reveal a hidden Becchi-Rouet-Stora (BRS) symmetry of the model that describes the collapse ($\theta$-)transition to compact polymer-conformations, and calculate the critical exponents to 2-loop order. It turns out that the long-standing 1-loop results for these exponents are not entirely correct. A runaway of the RG flow indicates that the so-called $\theta^\prime$-transition could be a fluctuation induced first order transition.Comment: 4 page

On Critical Exponents and the Renormalization of the Coupling Constant in Growth Models with Surface Diffusion

It is shown by the method of renormalized field theory that in contrast to a statement based on a mathematically ill-defined invariance transformation and found in most of the recent publications on growth models with surface diffusion, the coupling constant of these models renormalizes nontrivially. This implies that the widely accepted supposedly exact scaling exponents are to be corrected. A two-loop calculation shows that the corrections are small and these exponents seem to be very good approximations.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 2 postscript figures, to appear in Phys.Rev.Let

Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Directed Percolation with Many Colors: Differentiation of Species in the Gribov Process

A general field theoretic model of directed percolation with many colors that is equivalent to a population model (Gribov process) with many species near their extinction thresholds is presented. It is shown that the multicritical behavior is always described by the well known exponents of Reggeon field theory. In addition this universal model shows an instability that leads in general to a total asymmetry between each pair of species of a cooperative society.Comment: 4 pages, 2 Postscript figures, uses multicol.sty, submitte

Microscopic Non-Universality versus Macroscopic Universality in Algorithms for Critical Dynamics

We study relaxation processes in spin systems near criticality after a quench from a high-temperature initial state. Special attention is paid to the stage where universal behavior, with increasing order parameter emerges from an early non-universal period. We compare various algorithms, lattice types, and updating schemes and find in each case the same universal behavior at macroscopic times, despite of surprising differences during the early non-universal stages.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, RevTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let