In these lectures we give an overview of nonequilibrium stochastic systems.
In particular we discuss in detail two models, the asymmetric exclusion process
and a ballistic reaction model, that illustrate many general features of
nonequilibrium dynamics: for example coarsening dynamics and nonequilibrium
phase transitions. As a secondary theme we shall show how a common mathematical
structure, the q-deformed harmonic oscillator algebra, serves to furnish exact
results for both systems. Thus the lectures also serve as a gentle introduction
to things q-deformed.Comment: 48 pages LaTeX2e with 9 figures and using elsart.cls (included);
Lectures at the International Summer School on Fundamental Problems in
Statistical Physics X, August-September 2001, Altenberg, Germany. v2 corrects
some errors and includes further discussion/reference