Two-species diffusion-annihilation process on the fully-connected lattice: probability distributions and extreme value statistics

We study the two-species diffusion-annihilation process, $A+B\rightarrow$ \O, on the fully-connected lattice. Probability distributions for the number of particles and the reaction time are obtained for a finite-size system using a master equation approach. Mean values and variances are deduced from generating functions. When the reaction is far from complete, i.e., for a large number of particles of each species, mean-field theory is exact and the fluctuations are Gaussian. In the scaling limit the reaction time displays extreme-value statistics in the vicinity of the absorbing states. A generalized Gumbel distribution is obtained for unequal initial densities, $\rho_A>\rho_B$. For equal or almost equal initial densities, $\rho_A\simeq\rho_B$, the fluctuations of the reaction time near the absorbing state are governed by a probability density involving derivatives of $\vartheta_4$, the Jacobi theta function.Comment: 30 pages, 18 figures. Continuation of arXiv:1711.01248. published versio

On a random walk with memory and its relation to Markovian processes

We study a one-dimensional random walk with memory in which the step lengths to the left and to the right evolve at each step in order to reduce the wandering of the walker. The feedback is quite efficient and lead to a non-diffusive walk. The time evolution of the displacement is given by an equivalent Markovian dynamical process. The probability density for the position of the walker is the same at any time as for a random walk with shrinking steps, although the two-time correlation functions are quite different.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Nonequilibrium phase transition in a driven Potts model with friction

We consider magnetic friction between two systems of $q$-state Potts spins which are moving along their boundaries with a relative constant velocity $v$. Due to the interaction between the surface spins there is a permanent energy flow and the system is in a steady state which is far from equilibrium. The problem is treated analytically in the limit $v=\infty$ (in one dimension, as well as in two dimensions for large-$q$ values) and for $v$ and $q$ finite by Monte Carlo simulations in two dimensions. Exotic nonequilibrium phase transitions take place, the properties of which depend on the type of phase transition in equilibrium. When this latter transition is of first order, a sequence of second- and first-order nonequilibrium transitions can be observed when the interaction is varied.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, one journal reference adde

Disordered Potts model on the diamond hierarchical lattice: Numerically exact treatment in the large-q limit

We consider the critical behavior of the random q-state Potts model in the large-q limit with different types of disorder leading to either the nonfrustrated random ferromagnet regime or the frustrated spin glass regime. The model is studied on the diamond hierarchical lattice for which the Migdal-Kadanoff real-space renormalization is exact. It is shown to have a ferromagnetic and a paramagnetic phase and the phase transition is controlled by four different fixed points. The state of the system is characterized by the distribution of the interface free energy P(I) which is shown to satisfy different integral equations at the fixed points. By numerical integration we have obtained the corresponding stable laws of nonlinear combination of random numbers and obtained numerically exact values for the critical exponents.Comment: 8+ pages, 5 figure

Scaling properties at the interface between different critical subsystems: The Ashkin-Teller model

We consider two critical semi-infinite subsystems with different critical exponents and couple them through their surfaces. The critical behavior at the interface, influenced by the critical fluctuations of the two subsystems, can be quite rich. In order to examine the various possibilities, we study a system composed of two coupled Ashkin-Teller models with different four-spin couplings epsilon, on the two sides of the junction. By varying epsilon, some bulk and surface critical exponents of the two subsystems are continuously modified, which in turn changes the interface critical behavior. In particular we study the marginal situation, for which magnetic critical exponents at the interface vary continuously with the strength of the interaction parameter. The behavior expected from scaling arguments is checked by DMRG calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Minor correction

Critical behavior at the interface between two systems belonging to different universality classes

We consider the critical behavior at an interface which separates two semi-infinite subsystems belonging to different universality classes, thus having different set of critical exponents, but having a common transition temperature. We solve this problem analytically in the frame of mean-field theory, which is then generalized using phenomenological scaling considerations. A large variety of interface critical behavior is obtained which is checked numerically on the example of two-dimensional q-state Potts models with q=2 to 4. Weak interface couplings are generally irrelevant, resulting in the same critical behavior at the interface as for a free surface. With strong interface couplings, the interface remains ordered at the bulk transition temperature. More interesting is the intermediate situation, the special interface transition, when the critical behavior at the interface involves new critical exponents, which however can be expressed in terms of the bulk and surface exponents of the two subsystems. We discuss also the smooth or discontinuous nature of the order parameter profile.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, published version, minor changes, some references adde

Anomalous Diffusion in Aperiodic Environments

We study the Brownian motion of a classical particle in one-dimensional inhomogeneous environments where the transition probabilities follow quasiperiodic or aperiodic distributions. Exploiting an exact correspondence with the transverse-field Ising model with inhomogeneous couplings we obtain many new analytical results for the random walk problem. In the absence of global bias the qualitative behavior of the diffusive motion of the particle and the corresponding persistence probability strongly depend on the fluctuation properties of the environment. In environments with bounded fluctuations the particle shows normal diffusive motion and the diffusion constant is simply related to the persistence probability. On the other hand in a medium with unbounded fluctuations the diffusion is ultra-slow, the displacement of the particle grows on logarithmic time scales. For the borderline situation with marginal fluctuations both the diffusion exponent and the persistence exponent are continuously varying functions of the aperiodicity. Extensions of the results to disordered media and to higher dimensions are also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, RevTe