32,710 research outputs found
Generalized diffusion equation
Modern analyses of diffusion processes have proposed nonlinear versions of
the Fokker-Planck equation to account for non-classical diffusion. These
nonlinear equations are usually constructed on a phenomenological basis. Here
we introduce a nonlinear transformation by defining the -generating function
which, when applied to the intermediate scattering function of classical
statistical mechanics, yields, in a mathematically systematic derivation, a
generalized form of the advection-diffusion equation in Fourier space. Its
solutions are discussed and suggest that the -generating function approach
should be a useful tool to generalize classical diffusive transport
formulations.Comment: 5 pages with 3 figure
Molecular theory of anomalous diffusion
We present a Master Equation formulation based on a Markovian random walk
model that exhibits sub-diffusion, classical diffusion and super-diffusion as a
function of a single parameter. The non-classical diffusive behavior is
generated by allowing for interactions between a population of walkers. At the
macroscopic level, this gives rise to a nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation. The
diffusive behavior is reflected not only in the mean-squared displacement
( with ) but also in the existence
of self-similar scaling solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation. We give a
physical interpretation of sub- and super-diffusion in terms of the attractive
and repulsive interactions between the diffusing particles and we discuss
analytically the limiting values of the exponent . Simulations based on
the Master Equation are shown to be in agreement with the analytical solutions
of the nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation in all three diffusion regimes.Comment: Published text with additional comment
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