“Statistical” symmetry with applications to phase transitions

Hermann proposed that mesomorphic media should be classified by assigning certain statistical symmetry groups to each possible partially ordered array. Two translational groups introduced were called superordinate and subordinate. We find that the average density in such a partially ordered medium has the superordinate symmetry ₁, while the pair correlation function has the subordinate symmetry ₂. A complete listing is made of all compatible combinations of ₁ and ₂ in two and three dimensions. This leads to more possible symmetries than Hermann obtained, e.g., also to nonstoichiometric crystals. The order parameter space for the systems is found to be the quotient space ₁/₂. In most cases it is identical to the order parameter space of low-dimensionalXY spin systems. The Landau free energy is expanded as functional of the two-particle correlation functionK; the translation group is found to be ₁×₂. A Landau mean-field theory can then be carried out by expanding the system free energy into a series of invariants of the active irreducible representations ofK and mapping the free energy onto that for anXY planar spin system. We predict novel critical behavior for transitions between mesomorphic phases and go nogo selection rules for continuous transitions. We give the structure factors for X-ray scattering so changes in all such phase transitions are observable. The statistical symmetry groups, which describe point and translational symmetries of the mesophases, are classified. Proposals are made to include quasi-long-range or topological order in the classification scheme.This work supported in part by National Science Foundation (Division of International Programs), the PSC-BHE—Faculty Research Award CUNY and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Computer simulation of shock waves in the completely asymmetric simple exclusion process

We study the evolution of the completely asymmetric simple exclusion process in one dimension, with particles moving only to the right, for initial configurations corresponding to average density _– ( ₊) left (right) of the origin, _{– +}. The microscopic shock position is identified by introducing a second-class particle. Results indicate that the shock profile is stable, and that the distribution as seen from the shock positionN(t) tends, as time increases, to a limiting distribution, which is locally close to an equilibrium distribution far from the shock. Moreover , withV=1– _–– ₊, as predicted, and the dispersion ofN(t), ²(t), behaves linearly, for not too small values of ₊– _–, i.e., , whereS is equal, up to a scaling factor, to the valueS _WA predicted in the weakly asymmetric case. For ₊= _– we find agreement with the conjecture .Dedicated to the memory of Paola Calderoni.     

Spectral properties of a class of operators associated with conformal maps in two dimensions

Iff is a rational map of the Riemann sphere, define the transfer operator by Let also be the Banach space of functions for which the second derivatives are measures. Ifg andg satisfies a simple integrability condition (implying thatg vanishes at critical points and multiple poles off) then is a bounded linear operator on . The essential spectral radius of can be estimated and, under suitable conditions, proved to be strictly less than the spectral radius. Similar estimates for more general operators are also obtained.     

The projection approach to the Fokker-Planck equation. I. Colored Gaussian noise

It is shown that the Fokker-Planck operator can be derived via a projection-perturbation approach, using the repartition of a more detailed operator into a perturbation ₁ and an unperturbed part ₀. The standard Fokker-Planck structure is recovered at the second order in ₁, whereas the perturbation terms of higher order are shown to provoke the breakdown of this structure. To get rid of these higher order terms, a key approximation, local linearization (LL), is made. In general, to evaluate at the second order in ₁ the exact expression of the diffusion coefficient which simulates the influence of a Gaussian noise with a finite correlation time, a resummation up to infinite order in must be carried out, leading to what other authors call the best Fokker-Planck approximation (BFPA). It is shown that, due to the role of terms of higher order in ₁, the BFPA leads to predictions on the equilibrium distributions that are reliable only up to the first order in t. The LL, on the contrary, in addition to making the influence of terms of higher order in ₁ vanish, results in a simple analytical expression for the term of second order that is formally coincident with the complete resummation over all the orders in t provided by the Fox theory. The corresponding diffusion coefficient in turn is shown to lead in the limiting case to exact results for the steady-state distributions. Therefore, over the whole range 0 the LL turns out to be an approximation much more accurate than the global linearization proposed by other authors for the same purpose of making the terms of higher order in ₁ vanish. In the short- region the LL leads to results virtually coincident with those of the BFPA. In the large- region the LL is a more accurate approximation than the BFPA itself. These theoretical arguments are supported by the results of both analog and digital simulation.     

Spatial structure in diffusion-limited two-particle reactions

We analyze the limiting behavior of the densities _A(t) and _B(t), and the random spatial structure(r) = ( _A(t)., _B(t)), for the diffusion-controlled chemical reaction A+Binert. For equal initial densities _B(0) = _b(0) there is a change in behavior fromd 4, where _A(t) = _B(t) C/t^d/4, tod 4, where _A(t) = _b(t) C/t ast ; the termC depends on the initial densities and changes withd. There is a corresponding change in the spatial structure. Ind < 4, the particle types separate with only one type present locally, and , after suitable rescaling, tends to a random Gaussian process. Ind >4, both particle types are, after large times, present locally in concentrations not depending on type or location. Ind=4, both particle types are present locally, but with random concentrations, and the process tends to a limit.     

Measures on infinite-dimensional orthomodular spaces

We classify the measures on the lattice of all closed subspaces of infinite-dimensional orthomodular spaces (E, ) over fields of generalized power series with coefficients in . We prove that every -additive measure on can be obtained by lifting measures from the residual spaces of (E, ). The measures being lifted are known, for the residual spaces are Euclidean. From the classification we deduce, among other things, that the set of all measures on is not separating.Research supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

Self-diffusion in simple models: Systems with long-range jumps

We review some exact results for the motion of a tagged particle in simple models. Then, we study the density dependence of the self-diffusion coefficientD _N() in lattice systems with simple symmetric exclusion in which the particles can jump, with equal rates, to a set ofN neighboring sites. We obtain positive upper and lower bounds onF _N()=N{(1–)–[D_N()/D_N(0)]}/[(1–)]x for [0, 1]. Computer simulations for the square, triangular, and one-dimensional lattices suggest thatF _N becomes effectively independent ofN forN20.     

Growth of correlation in the Hopfield model

Introducing a finite correlation ₀ between any two learned patterns (others remaining uncorrelated), we observe in a numerical simulation that the Hopfield model stores these two patterns with correlation _f such that _f0 for any loading capacity. The patterns are memorized perfectly (with _f= ₀) up to -0.05 for finite correlations ₀ not exceeding a value _c(), where _c() decreases continuously to zero at -0.05.     

Generalized Stefan-Boltzmann law

Thermodynamics arguments have been employed to derive how the energy density depends on the temperatureT for a fluid whose pressurep obeys the equation of statep = ( –1), where is a constant. Three different methods, among them the one considered by Boltzmann (Carnot cycle), lead to the expression = T/( –1), where is a constant. This result also appears naturally in the framework of general relativity for spacetimes with constant spatial curvature. Some particular cases are vacuum (p = –), cosmic strings (p= –1/3), radiation (p = 1/3), and stiff matter (p = ). It is also shown that such results can be adapted for blackbody radiation inN spatial dimensions.     

Asymptotic behavior of densities for two-particle annihilating random walks

Consider the system of particles on ^d where particles are of two types—A andB—and execute simple random walks in continuous time. Particles do not interact with their own type, but when anA-particle meets aB-particle, both disappear, i.e., are annihilated. This system serves as a model for the chemical reactionA+B inert. We analyze the limiting behavior of the densities _A (t) and _B (t) when the initial state is given by homogeneous Poisson random fields. We prove that for equal initial densities _A (0)= _B (0) there is a change in behavior fromd4, where _A (t)= _B (t)C/t ^d /4, tod4, where _A (t)= _B (t)C/tast. For unequal initial densities _A (0)< _B (0), _A (t)e ^–cl ind=1, _A (t)e ^–Ct/logt ind=2, and _A (t)e ^–Ct ind3. The termC depends on the initial densities and changes withd. Techniques are from interacting particle systems. The behavior for this two-particle annihilation process has similarities to those for coalescing random walks (A+AA) and annihilating random walks (A+Ainert). The analysis of the present process is made considerably more difficult by the lack of comparison with an attractive particle system.     

Exact Large Deviation Functional of a Stationary Open Driven Diffusive System: The Asymmetric Exclusion Process

We consider the asymmetric exclusion process (ASEP) in one dimension on sites i=1,...,N, in contact at sites i=1 and i=N with infinite particle reservoirs at densities _a and _b . As _a and _b are varied, the typical macroscopic steady state density profile ¯(x), x[a,b], obtained in the limit N=L(b–a), exhibits shocks and phase transitions. Here we derive an exact asymptotic expression for the probability of observing an arbitrary macroscopic profile , so that is the large deviation functional, a quantity similar to the free energy of equilibrium systems. We find, as in the symmetric, purely diffusive case q=1 (treated in an earlier work), that is in general a non-local functional of (x). Unlike the symmetric case, however, the asymmetric case exhibits ranges of the parameters for which is not convex and others for which has discontinuities in its second derivatives at (x)=¯(x). In the latter ranges the fluctuations of order in the density profile near ¯(x) are then non-Gaussian and cannot be calculated from the large deviation function.     

Existence of Pair Potential Corresponding to Specified Density and Pair Correlation

Given a potential of pair interaction and a value of activity, one can consider the Gibbs distribution in a finite domain . It is well known that for small values of activity there exist the infinite volume limiting Gibbs distribution and the infinite volume correlation functions. In this paper we consider the converse problem – we show that given ₁ and ₂(x), where ₁ is a constant and ₂(x) is a function on , which are sufficiently small, there exist a pair potential and a value of activity, for which ₁ is the density and ₂(x) is the pair correlation function.Partially supported by NSF Research Grant     

The role of the distribution of nucleons in finite nuclei

The total energy of many-nucleon system is expressed as a functional E[ _p(r), _n(r)] of the proton and neutron densities _p(r) and _n(r), respectively. The distribution(r) of nucleons in the nucleus, which is essential to determine the energy functional, is chosen. The energy density formalism is applied to finite nuclei, and then the binding energies per nucleon together with the mean square radii, for some medium and heavy nuclei, are obtained. Finally the achieved results are compared with the corresponding experimental values.     

On Strong Superadditivity of the Entanglement of Formation

We employ a basic formalism from convex analysis to show a simple relation between the entanglement of formation E_F and the conjugate function E^* of the entanglement function E()=S(Tr_A). We then consider the conjectured strong superadditivity of the entanglement of formation E_F()E_F(_I)+E_F(_II), where _I and _II are the reductions of to the different Hilbert space copies, and prove that it is equivalent with subadditivity of E^*. Furthermore, we show that strong superadditivity would follow from multiplicativity of the maximal channel output purity for quantum filtering operations, when purity is measured by Schatten p-norms for p tending to 1.     

Radius,perimeter, and density profile for percolation clusters and lattice animals

Monte Carlo simulation and series expansion shows the radius of gyration of large clusters withs sites each to vary ass with0.56 in two and0.47 in three dimensions at the percolation threshold, and with(d=2)0.65 and(d=3)0.53 for random lattice animals (zero concentration). Clusters up tos=100 were used. The perimeter of random animals approaches 2.8s for larges on the simple cubic lattice. Monte Carlo simulation of the Eden process (growing animals) up tos=5,000 indicates a systematic variation of about ±0.05 for the effective exponent=(s) and thus suggests that the true asymptotic exponents may be compatible with the predictions of hyper-scaling.     

Metastable states in the van der Waals-Maxwell theory

A slight modification of the recent Penrose and Lebowitz treatment of thermodynamic metastable states is presented. For the case of periodic boundary conditions, this modification allows the condition of metastability to be extended to all the metastable states in the van der Waals-Maxwell theory of the liquid-vapor phase transition, that is, for all states satisfyingf ₀()+1/2 ²>f(, 0+) andf₀()+x>0 wheref(, 0+) is the (stable) Helmholtz free energy density of the generalized van der Waals-Maxwell theory andf ₀() is the Helmholtz free energy density of a reference system with no long-range interaction, is a mean field-type term arising from a long-range Kac interaction, is the overall mean particle density, andx is any positive number. For the case of rigid-wall boundary conditions, a more restrictive condition is placed onx.     

Spectrum of γ-Fluids: A statistical derivation

The spectrum of massless bosonic and fermionic fluids satisfying the equation of statep=(–1) is derived using elementary statistical methods. As a limiting case, the Lorentz-invariant spectrum of the vacuum (=0,p=–) is deduced. These results are in agreement with our earlier derivation for bosons using thermodynamics and semiclassical considerations.     

Self-Dual Solutions for SU(2) and SU(3) Gauge Fields on Euclidean Space

Self-dual solutions for SU(2) gauge fields on Euclidean space that satisfy Yang's ansatz are generalized by considering as a function of for a special case when is a complex analytic function and for SU(3) when _i, i = 1, 2, 3, are complex analytic functions.     

Behavior of the electrical resistivity at phase transitions in binary alloys

The excess resistivity of binary alloys is calculated in the Born approximation for the scattering of quasifree electrons from the atomic disorder. can be represented as the convolution of the structure functionS(q) and the fourier transform of the effective potential. The critical anomaly of is derived from scaling expressions forS(q), both for alloys which undergo unmixing and for order-disorder transitions. The variation of with concentration and temperature in the vicinity of a critical point is obtained. The time-dependence of the resistivity of alloys after a sudden quench into the two-phase region is also calculated, using computer simulation data forS(q,t), and a maximum of is found for zones with linear dimension of 8–12 lattice spacings. All these results are in fair agreement with the available experiments. As a further possible application, we obtain the critical exponent for the nonlinear relaxation of the resistivity of an alloy close to the order-disorder transition.     

Noise Corrections to Stochastic Trace Formulas

We review studies of an evolution operator for a discrete Langevin equation with a strongly hyperbolic classical dynamics and a Gaussian noise. The leading eigenvalue of yields a physically measurable property of the dynamical system, the escape rate from the repeller. The spectrum of the evolution operator in the weak noise limit can be computed in several ways. A method using a local matrix representation of the operator allows to push the corrections to the escape rate up to order eight in the noise expansion parameter. These corrections then appear to form a divergent series. Actually, via a cumulant expansion, they relate to analogous divergent series for other quantities, the traces of the evolution operators ⁿ. Using an integral representation of the evolution operator , we then investigate the high order corrections to the latter traces. Their asymptotic behavior is found to be controlled by sub-dominant saddle points previously neglected in the perturbative expansion, and to be ultimately described by a kind of trace formula.