Finite-size left-passage probability in percolation

We obtain an exact finite-size expression for the probability that a percolation hull will touch the boundary, on a strip of finite width. Our calculation is based on the q-deformed Knizhnik--Zamolodchikov approach, and the results are expressed in terms of symplectic characters. In the large size limit, we recover the scaling behaviour predicted by Schramm's left-passage formula. We also derive a general relation between the left-passage probability in the Fortuin--Kasteleyn cluster model and the magnetisation profile in the open XXZ chain with diagonal, complex boundary terms.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure

Exact Ground State and Finite Size Scaling in a Supersymmetric Lattice Model

We study a model of strongly correlated fermions in one dimension with extended N=2 supersymmetry. The model is related to the spin $S=1/2$ XXZ Heisenberg chain at anisotropy $\Delta=-1/2$ with a real magnetic field on the boundary. We exploit the combinatorial properties of the ground state to determine its exact wave function on finite lattices with up to 30 sites. We compute several correlation functions of the fermionic and spin fields. We discuss the continuum limit by constructing lattice observables with well defined finite size scaling behavior. For the fermionic model with periodic boundary conditions we give the emptiness formation probability in closed form.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figure

Bethe Ansatz solution of a decagonal rectangle triangle random tiling

A random tiling of rectangles and triangles displaying a decagonal phase is solved by Bethe Ansatz. Analogously to the solutions of the dodecagonal square triangle and the octagonal rectangle triangle tiling an exact expression for the maximum of the entropy is found.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, some remarks added and typos correcte

Raise and Peel Models of fluctuating interfaces and combinatorics of Pascal's hexagon

The raise and peel model of a one-dimensional fluctuating interface (model A) is extended by considering one source (model B) or two sources (model C) at the boundaries. The Hamiltonians describing the three processes have, in the thermodynamic limit, spectra given by conformal field theory. The probability of the different configurations in the stationary states of the three models are not only related but have interesting combinatorial properties. We show that by extending Pascal's triangle (which gives solutions to linear relations in terms of integer numbers), to an hexagon, one obtains integer solutions of bilinear relations. These solutions give not only the weights of the various configurations in the three models but also give an insight to the connections between the probability distributions in the stationary states of the three models. Interestingly enough, Pascal's hexagon also gives solutions to a Hirota's difference equation.Comment: 33 pages, an abstract and an introduction are rewritten, few references are adde

Relaxation rate of the reverse biased asymmetric exclusion process

We compute the exact relaxation rate of the partially asymmetric exclusion process with open boundaries, with boundary rates opposing the preferred direction of flow in the bulk. This reverse bias introduces a length scale in the system, at which we find a crossover between exponential and algebraic relaxation on the coexistence line. Our results follow from a careful analysis of the Bethe ansatz root structure.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Construction of a Coordinate Bethe Ansatz for the asymmetric simple exclusion process with open boundaries

The asymmetric simple exclusion process with open boundaries, which is a very simple model of out-of-equilibrium statistical physics, is known to be integrable. In particular, its spectrum can be described in terms of Bethe roots. The large deviation function of the current can be obtained as well by diagonalizing a modified transition matrix, that is still integrable: the spectrum of this new matrix can be also described in terms of Bethe roots for special values of the parameters. However, due to the algebraic framework used to write the Bethe equations in the previous works, the nature of the excitations and the full structure of the eigenvectors were still unknown. This paper explains why the eigenvectors of the modified transition matrix are physically relevant, gives an explicit expression for the eigenvectors and applies it to the study of atypical currents. It also shows how the coordinate Bethe Ansatz developped for the excitations leads to a simple derivation of the Bethe equations and of the validity conditions of this Ansatz. All the results obtained by de Gier and Essler are recovered and the approach gives a physical interpretation of the exceptional points The overlap of this approach with other tools such as the matrix Ansatz is also discussed. The method that is presented here may be not specific to the asymmetric exclusion process and may be applied to other models with open boundaries to find similar exceptional points.Comment: references added, one new subsection and corrected typo

Membrane topology of the 60 kDa Oxa1p-homologue from Escherichia coli

We have characterized the membrane topology of a 60-kDa inner membrane protein from Escherichia coli that is homologous to the recently identified Oxa1p protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria implicated in the assembly of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins. Hydrophobicity and alkaline phosphatase fusion analyses suggest a membrane topology with six transmembrane segments, including an N-terminal signal-anchor sequence not present in mitochondrial Oxa1p. In contrast to partial N-terminal fusion protein constructs, the full-length protein folds into a protease-resistant conformation, suggesting that important folding determinants are present in the C-terminal part of the molecule

Exact expressions for correlations in the ground state of the dense O(1) loop model

Conjectures for analytical expressions for correlations in the dense O$(1)$ loop model on semi infinite square lattices are given. We have obtained these results for four types of boundary conditions. Periodic and reflecting boundary conditions have been considered before. We give many new conjectures for these two cases and review some of the existing results. We also consider boundaries on which loops can end. We call such boundaries ''open''. We have obtained expressions for correlations when both boundaries are open, and one is open and the other one is reflecting. Also, we formulate a conjecture relating the ground state of the model with open boundaries to Fully Packed Loop models on a finite square grid. We also review earlier obtained results about this relation for the three other types of boundary conditions. Finally, we construct a mapping between the ground state of the dense O$(1)$ loop model and the XXZ spin chain for the different types of boundary conditions.Comment: 25 pages, version accepted by JSTA

Slowest relaxation mode of the partially asymmetric exclusion process with open boundaries

We analyze the Bethe ansatz equations describing the complete spectrum of the transition matrix of the partially asymmetric exclusion process on a finite lattice and with the most general open boundary conditions. We extend results obtained recently for totally asymmetric diffusion [J. de Gier and F.H.L. Essler, J. Stat. Mech. P12011 (2006)] to the case of partial symmetry. We determine the finite-size scaling of the spectral gap, which characterizes the approach to stationarity at large times, in the low and high density regimes and on the coexistence line. We observe boundary induced crossovers and discuss possible interpretations of our results in terms of effective domain wall theories.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, typeset for pdflatex; revised versio

Structure of the two-boundary XXZ model with non-diagonal boundary terms

We study the integrable XXZ model with general non-diagonal boundary terms at both ends. The Hamiltonian is considered in terms of a two boundary extension of the Temperley-Lieb algebra. We use a basis that diagonalizes a conserved charge in the one-boundary case. The action of the second boundary generator on this space is computed. For the L-site chain and generic values of the parameters we have an irreducible space of dimension 2^L. However at certain critical points there exists a smaller irreducible subspace that is invariant under the action of all the bulk and boundary generators. These are precisely the points at which Bethe Ansatz equations have been formulated. We compute the dimension of the invariant subspace at each critical point and show that it agrees with the splitting of eigenvalues, found numerically, between the two Bethe Ansatz equations.Comment: 9 pages Latex. Minor correction