4,755 research outputs found
Yang-Lee Theory for a Nonequilibrium Phase Transition
To analyze phase transitions in a nonequilibrium system we study its grand
canonical partition function as a function of complex fugacity. Real and
positive roots of the partition function mark phase transitions. This behavior,
first found by Yang and Lee under general conditions for equilibrium systems,
can also be applied to nonequilibrium phase transitions. We consider a
one-dimensional diffusion model with periodic boundary conditions. Depending on
the diffusion rates, we find real and positive roots and can distinguish two
regions of analyticity, which can identified with two different phases. In a
region of the parameter space both of these phases coexist. The condensation
point can be computed with high accuracy.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.Let
On Matrix Product States for Periodic Boundary Conditions
The possibility of a matrix product representation for eigenstates with
energy and momentum zero of a general m-state quantum spin Hamiltonian with
nearest neighbour interaction and periodic boundary condition is considered.
The quadratic algebra used for this representation is generated by 2m operators
which fulfil m^2 quadratic relations and is endowed with a trace. It is shown
that {\em not} every eigenstate with energy and momentum zero can be written as
matrix product state. An explicit counter-example is given. This is in contrast
to the case of open boundary conditions where every zero energy eigenstate can
be written as a matrix product state using a Fock-like representation of the
same quadratic algebra.Comment: 7 pages, late
Environmental chemical exposures and risk of herpes zoster.
This study investigated whether residence in Aberdeen, North Carolina, the location of the Aberdeen pesticides dumps site (a national priority list Superfund site containing organochlorine pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and metals), is associated with immune suppression as indicated by a higher incidence of herpes zoster and recent occurrences of other common infectious diseases. Study participants included 1,642 residents, 18-64 years of age, who responded to a telephone survey concerning potential occupational and recreational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals, lifetime history of herpes zoster (shingles), and the recent occurrence of other common infectious diseases. Stratified and logistic regression analyses were used to compare the cumulative incidence of herpes zoster among Aberdeen residents and residents of nearby communities. There was little evidence of an overall increased risk of herpes zoster among Aberdeen residents during the period 1951-1994 [relative risk (RR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8-2.1]. However, an elevated risk of herpes zoster was noted consistently among Aberdeen residents of younger ages as compared to residents of the nearby communities. The RR was 2.0 (CI, 1.0-4.0) among those 18-40 years of age and was not affected by controlling for potential confounders. The RR of herpes zoster was also consistently elevated in all age groups for the period before 1985. No differences were noted between residents of Aberdeen and those of the nearby communities with respect to the recent occurrence of other common infectious diseases. These results support the plausibility of an association between exposure to the Aberdeen pesticides dumps site and immune suppression and the potential use of herpes zoster as a marker of immune suppression in studies of environmental chemical exposures
Yang-Lee zeroes for an urn model for the separation of sand
We apply the Yang-Lee theory of phase transitions to an urn model of
separation of sand. The effective partition function of this nonequilibrium
system can be expressed as a polynomial of the size-dependent effective
fugacity . Numerical calculations show that in the thermodynamic limit, the
zeros of the effective partition function are located on the unit circle in the
complex -plane. In the complex plane of the actual control parameter certain
roots converge to the transition point of the model. Thus the Yang-Lee theory
can be applied to a wider class of nonequilibrium systems than those considered
previously.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures include
One-Dimensional Partially Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process on a Ring with a Defect Particle
The effect of a moving defect particle for the one-dimensional partially
asymmetric simple exclusion process on a ring is considered. The current of the
ordinary particles, the speed of the defect particle and the density profile of
the ordinary particles are calculated exactly. The phase diagram for the
correlation length is identified. As a byproduct, the average and the variance
of the particle density of the one-dimensional partially asymmetric simple
exclusion process with open boundaries are also computed.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figur
Exact solution and asymptotic behaviour of the asymmetric simple exclusion process on a ring
In this paper, we study an exact solution of the asymmetric simple exclusion
process on a periodic lattice of finite sites with two typical updates, i.e.,
random and parallel. Then, we find that the explicit formulas for the partition
function and the average velocity are expressed by the Gauss hypergeometric
function. In order to obtain these results, we effectively exploit the
recursion formula for the partition function for the zero-range process. The
zero-range process corresponds to the asymmetric simple exclusion process if
one chooses the relevant hop rates of particles, and the recursion gives the
partition function, in principle, for any finite system size. Moreover, we
reveal the asymptotic behaviour of the average velocity in the thermodynamic
limit, expanding the formula as a series in system size.Comment: 10 page
Exact Solution of an Exclusion Model in the Presence of a moving Impurity
We study a recently introduced model which consists of positive and negative
particles on a ring. The positive (negative) particles hop clockwise
(counter-clockwise) with rate 1 and oppositely charged particles may swap their
positions with asymmetric rates q and 1. In this paper we assume that a finite
density of positively charged particles and only one negative particle
(which plays the role of an impurity) exist on the ring. It turns out that the
canonical partition function of this model can be calculated exactly using
Matrix Product Ansatz (MPA) formalism. In the limit of infinite system size and
infinite number of positive particles, we can also derive exact expressions for
the speed of the positive and negative particles which show a second order
phase transition at . The density profile of the positive particles
on the ring has a shock structure for and an exponential behaviour
with correlation length for . It will be shown that the
mean-field results become exact at q=3 and no phase transition occurs for q>2.Comment: 9 pages,4 EPS figures. To be appear in JP
Symmetry breaking through a sequence of transitions in a driven diffusive system
In this work we study a two species driven diffusive system with open
boundaries that exhibits spontaneous symmetry breaking in one dimension. In a
symmetry broken state the currents of the two species are not equal, although
the dynamics is symmetric. A mean field theory predicts a sequence of two
transitions from a strongly symmetry broken state through an intermediate
symmetry broken state to a symmetric state. However, a recent numerical study
has questioned the existence of the intermediate state and instead suggested a
single discontinuous transition. In this work we present an extensive numerical
study that supports the existence of the intermediate phase but shows that this
phase and the transition to the symmetric phase are qualitatively different
from the mean-field predictions.Comment: 19 pages, 12 figure
Stochastic Models on a Ring and Quadratic Algebras. The Three Species Diffusion Problem
The stationary state of a stochastic process on a ring can be expressed using
traces of monomials of an associative algebra defined by quadratic relations.
If one considers only exclusion processes one can restrict the type of algebras
and obtain recurrence relations for the traces. This is possible only if the
rates satisfy certain compatibility conditions. These conditions are derived
and the recurrence relations solved giving representations of the algebras.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, Sec. 3 extended, submitted to J.Phys.
The wave nature of biomolecules and fluorofullerenes
We demonstrate quantum interference for tetraphenylporphyrin, the first
biomolecule exhibiting wave nature, and for the fluorofullerene C60F48 using a
near-field Talbot-Lau interferometer. For the porphyrins, which are
distinguished by their low symmetry and their abundant occurence in organic
systems, we find the theoretically expected maximal interference contrast and
its expected dependence on the de Broglie wavelength. For C60F48 the observed
fringe visibility is below the expected value, but the high contrast still
provides good evidence for the quantum character of the observed fringe
pattern. The fluorofullerenes therefore set the new mark in complexity and mass
(1632 amu) for de Broglie wave experiments, exceeding the previous mass record
by a factor of two.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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