An exactly solvable lattice model for inhomogeneous interface growth

We study the dynamics of an exactly solvable lattice model for inhomogeneous interface growth. The interface grows deterministically with constant velocity except along a defect line where the growth process is random. We obtain exact expressions for the average height and height fluctuations as functions of space and time for an initially flat interface. For a given defect strength there is a critical angle between the defect line and the growth direction above which a cusp in the interface develops. In the mapping to polymers in random media this is an example for the transverse Meissner effect. Fluctuations around the mean shape of the interface are Gaussian.Comment: 10 pages, late

Solution of the Lindblad equation for spin helix states

Using Lindblad dynamics we study quantum spin systems with dissipative boundary dynamics that generate a stationary nonequilibrium state with a non-vanishing spin current that is locally conserved except at the boundaries. We demonstrate that with suitably chosen boundary target states one can solve the many-body Lindblad equation exactly in any dimension. As solution we obtain pure states at any finite value of the dissipation strength and any system size. They are characterized by a helical stationary magnetization profile and a superdiffusive ballistic current of order one, independent of system size even when the quantum spin system is not integrable. These results are derived in explicit form for the one-dimensional spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain and its higher-spin generalizations (which include for spin-1 the integrable Zamolodchikov-Fateev model and the bi-quadratic Heisenberg chain). The extension of the results to higher dimensions is straightforward.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure

Diffusion of a hydrocarbon mixture in a one-dimensional zeolite channel: an exclusion model approach

Zeolite channels can be used as effective hydrocarbon traps. Earlier experiments (Czaplewski {\sl et al.}, 2002) show that the presence of large aromatic molecules (toluene) block the diffusion of light hydrocarbon molecules (propane) inside the narrow pore of a zeolite sample. As a result, the desorption temperature of propane is significantly higher in the binary mixture than in the single component case. In order to obtain further insight into these results, we use a simple lattice gas model of diffusion of hard-core particles to describe the diffusive transport of two species of molecules in a one-dimensional zeolite channel. Our dynamical Monte Carlo simulations show that taking into account an Arrhenius dependence of the single molecule diffusion coefficient on temperature, one can explain many significant features of the temperature programmed desorption profile observed in experiments. However, on a closer comparison of the experimental curve and our simulation data, we find that it is not possible to reproduce the higher propane current than toluene current near the desorption peak seen in experiment. We argue that this is caused by a violation of strict single-file behavior.Comment: Accepted for publication in the special issue "Diffusion in Micropores" of the journal Microporous and Mesoporous Material

Importance of boundary effects in diffusion of hydrocarbon molecules in a one-dimensional zeolite channel

Single-file diffusion of propane and toluene molecules inside a narrow, effectively one-dimensional zeolite pore was experimentally studied by Czaplewski {\sl et al.} Using a stochastic lattice gas approach, we obtain an analytical description of this process for the case of single-component loading. We show that a good quantitative agreement with the experimental data for the desorption temperature of the hydrocarbon molecules can be obtained if the desorption process from the boundary is associated with a higher activation energy than the diffusion process in the bulk. We also present Dynamical Monte Carlo simulation results for two-component loading which demonstrate in agreement with the experimental findings the effects of mutual blockage of the molecules due to single-file diffusion.Comment: Revised and final versio

Localization for a random walk in slowly decreasing random potential

We consider a continuous time random walk $X$ in random environment on $\Z^+$ such that its potential can be approximated by the function $V: \R^+\to \R$ given by V(x)=\sig W(x) -\frac{b}{1-\alf}x^{1-\alf} where \sig W a Brownian motion with diffusion coefficient \sig>0 and parameters $b$, \alf are such that $b>0$ and 0<\alf<1/2. We show that $\P$-a.s.\ (where $\P$ is the averaged law) \lim_{t\to \infty} \frac{X_t}{(C^*(\ln\ln t)^{-1}\ln t)^{\frac{1}{\alf}}}=1 with C^*=\frac{2\alf b}{\sig^2(1-2\alf)}. In fact, we prove that by showing that there is a trap located around (C^*(\ln\ln t)^{-1}\ln t)^{\frac{1}{\alf}} (with corrections of smaller order) where the particle typically stays up to time $t$. This is in sharp contrast to what happens in the "pure" Sinai's regime, where the location of this trap is random on the scale $\ln^2 t$.Comment: 14pages, 7 figure

Multiple pass reimaging optical system

An optical imaging system for enabling nonabsorbed light imaged onto a photodetective surface to be collected and reimaged one or more times onto that surface in register with the original image. The system includes an objective lens, one or more imaging lenses, one or more retroreflectors and perhaps a prism for providing optical matching of the imaging lens focal planes to the photo detective surface

Diffusion in a logarithmic potential: scaling and selection in the approach to equilibrium

The equation which describes a particle diffusing in a logarithmic potential arises in diverse physical problems such as momentum diffusion of atoms in optical traps, condensation processes, and denaturation of DNA molecules. A detailed study of the approach of such systems to equilibrium via a scaling analysis is carried out, revealing three surprising features: (i) the solution is given by two distinct scaling forms, corresponding to a diffusive (x ~ \sqrt{t}) and a subdiffusive (x >> \sqrt{t}) length scales, respectively; (ii) the scaling exponents and scaling functions corresponding to both regimes are selected by the initial condition; and (iii) this dependence on the initial condition manifests a "phase transition" from a regime in which the scaling solution depends on the initial condition to a regime in which it is independent of it. The selection mechanism which is found has many similarities to the marginal stability mechanism which has been widely studied in the context of fronts propagating into unstable states. The general scaling forms are presented and their practical and theoretical applications are discussed.Comment: 42 page