Relaxation of ideal classical particles in a one‐dimensional box

We study the deterministic dynamics of non‐interacting classical gas particles confined to a one‐dimensional box as a pedagogical toy model for the relaxation of the Boltzmann distribution towards equilibrium. Hard container walls alone induce a uniform distribution of the gas particles at large times. For the relaxation of the velocity distribution we model the dynamical walls by independent scatterers. The Markov property guarantees a stationary but not necessarily thermal velocity distribution for the gas particles at large times. We identify the conditions for physical walls where the stationary velocity distribution is the Maxwell distribution. For our numerical simulation we represent the wall particles by independent harmonic oscillators. The corresponding dynamical map for oscillators with a fixed phase (Fermi–Ulam accelerator) is chaotic for mesoscopic box dimensions.     

Thermalization of Fermionic Quantum Walkers

We consider the discrete time dynamics of an ensemble of fermionic quantum walkers moving on a finite discrete sample, interacting with a reservoir of infinitely many quantum particles on the one dimensional lattice. The reservoir is given by a fermionic quasifree state, with free discrete dynamics given by the shift, whereas the free dynamics of the non-interacting quantum walkers in the sample is defined by means of a unitary matrix. The reservoir and the sample exchange particles at specific sites by a unitary coupling and we study the discrete dynamics of the coupled system defined by the iteration of the free discrete dynamics acting on the unitary coupling, in a variety of situations. In particular, in absence of correlation within the particles of the reservoir and under natural assumptions on the sample’s dynamics, we prove that the one- and two-body reduced density matrices of the sample admit large times limits characterized by the state of the reservoir which are independent of the free dynamics of the quantum walkers and of the coupling strength. Moreover, the corresponding asymptotic density profile in the sample is flat and the correlations of number operators have no structure, a manifestation of thermalization.     

Evaluation of an algebraic model for the vibrations of water,effects of a discrete symmetry

We evaluate the dynamics of an algebraic model Hamiltonian for the vibrational motion of the water molecule. We pay special attention to the effects of the discrete symmetry of order 2 of the model. For a comparison between the quantum dynamics and the classical dynamics it is necessary to desymmetrize such quantum states which are based on types of motion which come in symmetry related pairs. For the other states based on motion invariant under the symmetry operation a desymmetrization would be meaningless. The desymmetrized quantum states show a simple connection to the guiding motions of the classical dynamics which can be used for a complete assignment of the states even though the system is not integrable in the sense of Liouville and shows chaotic behaviour in large parts of the classical phase space.     

Glassy mean-field dynamics of the backgammon model

In this paper we present an exact study of the relaxation dynamics of the backgammon model. This is a model of a gas of particles in a discrete space which presents glassy phenomena as a result ofentropy barriers in configuration space. The model is simple enough to allow for a complete analytical treatment of the dynamics in infinite dimensions. We first derive a closed equation describing the evolution of the occupation number probabilities, then we generalize the analysis to the study the autocorrelation function. We also consider possible variants of the model which allow us to study the effect of energy barriers.     

Minimal attractors in digraph system models of neuronal networks

We study a class of discrete dynamical systems models of neuronal networks. In these models, each neuron is represented by a finite number of states and there are rules for how a neuron transitions from one state to another. In particular, the rules determine when a neuron fires and how this affects the state of other neurons. In an earlier paper [D. Terman, S. Ahn, X. Wang, W. Just, Reducing neuronal networks to discrete dynamics, Physica D 237 (2008) 324-338], we demonstrate that a general class of excitatory-inhibitory networks can, in fact, be rigorously reduced to the discrete model. In the present paper, we analyze how the connectivity of the network influences the dynamics of the discrete model. For randomly connected networks, we find two major phase transitions. If the connection probability is above the second but below the first phase transition, then starting in a generic initial state, most but not all cells will fire at all times along the trajectory as soon as they reach the end of their refractory period. Above the first phase transition, this will be true for all cells in a typical initial state; thus most states will belong to a minimal attractor of oscillatory behavior (in a sense that is defined precisely in the paper). The exact positions of the phase transitions depend on intrinsic properties of the cells including the lengths of the cells’ refractory periods and the thresholds for firing. Existence of these phase transitions is both rigorously proved for sufficiently large networks and corroborated by numerical experiments on networks of moderate size.     

Quantum chaos in the Wigner representation

The dynamics of a familiar model of stochastic behavior-the quantum kicked rotator-is analyzed in the Wigner representation. Exact nonlocal maps defined on a discrete phase space are derived. The basic dynamics of a quantum kicked rotator can be described satisfactorily by means of a simplified map that incorporates only the discrete nature of the phase space.     

Macroscopic Limit of a Bipartite Curie–Weiss Model: A Dynamical Approach

We analyze the Glauber dynamics for a bi-populated Curie–Weiss model. We obtain the limiting behavior of the empirical averages in the limit of infinitely many particles. We then characterize the phase space of the model in absence of magnetic field and we show that several phase transitions in the inter-groups interaction strength occur.     

Effective Dynamics for a Kinetic Monte–Carlo Model with Slow and Fast Time Scales

We consider several multiscale-in-time kinetic Monte Carlo models, in which some variables evolve on a fast time scale, while the others evolve on a slow time scale. In the first two models we consider, a particle evolves in a one-dimensional potential energy landscape which has some small and some large barriers, the latter dividing the state space into metastable regions. In the limit of infinitely large barriers, we identify the effective dynamics between these macro-states, and prove the convergence of the process towards a kinetic Monte Carlo model. We next consider a third model, which consists of a system of two particles. The state of each particle evolves on a fast time-scale while conserving their respective energy. In addition, the particles can exchange energy on a slow time scale. Considering the energy of the first particle, we identify its effective dynamics in the limit of asymptotically small ratio between the characteristic times of the fast and the slow dynamics. For all models, our results are illustrated by representative numerical simulations.     

How efficiently Do three pointlike particles sample phase space?

We show that the continuous phase space of a hard particle system can be mapped onto a discrete but infinite phase space. For three pointlike particles confined to a ring, the evolution of the system maps onto a chaotic walk on a hexagonal lattice. This facilitates direct measurement of the departure of the system from its original configuration. In special cases of mass ratios the phase space becomes closed and finite (nonergodic). There are qualitative differences between this chaotic walk and a random walk, in particular a more rapid sampling of phase space.     

Fluctuations, response and aging dynamics in a simple glass-forming liquid out of equilibrium

By means of molecular dynamics computer simulations we investigate the out of equilibrium relaxation dynamics of a simple glass former, a binary Lennard-Jones system, after a quench to low temperatures. We find that one-time quantities, such as the energy or the structure factor, show only a weak time dependence. By comparing the out of equilibrium structure factor with equilibrium data we find evidence that during the aging process the system remains in that part of phase space that mode-coupling theory classifies as liquid like. Two-times correlation functions show a strong time and waiting time dependence. For large and times corresponding to the early -relaxation regime the correlators approach the Edwards-Anderson value by means of a power-law in time. For large but fixed values of the relaxation dynamics in the -relaxation regime seems to be independent of the observable and temperature. The -relaxation shows a power-law dependence on time with an exponent which is independent of but depends on the observable. We find that at long times the correlation functions can be expressed as and compute the function h(t). This function is found to show a t-dependence which is a bit stronger than a logarithm and to depend on the observable considered. If the system is quenched to very low temperatures the relaxation dynamics at long times shows fast drops as a function of time. We relate these drops to relatively local rearrangements in which part of the sample relaxes its stress by a collective motion of 50-100 particles. Finally we discuss our measurements of the time dependent response function. We find that at long times the correlation functions and the response are not related by the usual fluctuation dissipation theorem but that this relation is similar to the one found for spin glasses with one step replica symmetry breaking. Received 17 May 1999     

Dynamics of individuals and swarms with shot noise induced by stochastic food supply

We study the Brownian dynamics of individual particles with energy depot in two dimensions and extend the model to swarms of such particles. We assume that the elements (energy depots) are provided at discrete times with packets of chemical energy which is subsequently converted into acceleration of motion. In contrast to the mechanical white noise which is incorporated in the equations of mechanical motion and has no preferred direction, the energetic noise, as discussed in this study, is directed and it does not reverse the direction of mechanical motion. We characterize the effective noise acting on the particles and show that the stochastic energy supply may be modeled as a shot-noise driven Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process in energy which finally results in fluctuations of the velocity. We study the energy and velocity distributions for different regimes and estimate the crossover time from ballistic to diffusion motion. Further we investigate the dynamics of swarms and find a transition from translational to rotational motion depending on the rate of the shot noise.     

Population genetics in compressible flows

We study competition between two biological species advected by a compressible velocity field. Individuals are treated as discrete Lagrangian particles that reproduce or die in a density-dependent fashion. In the absence of a velocity field and fitness advantage, number fluctuations lead to a coarsening dynamics typical of the stochastic Fisher equation. We investigate three examples of compressible advecting fields: a shell model of turbulence, a sinusoidal velocity field and a linear velocity sink. In all cases, advection leads to a striking drop in the fixation time, as well as a large reduction in the global carrying capacity. We find localization on convergence zones, and very rapid extinction compared to well-mixed populations. For a linear velocity sink, one finds a bimodal distribution of fixation times. The long-lived states in this case are demixed configurations with a single interface, whose location depends on the fitness advantage.     

Fouling dynamics in suspension flows

A particle suspension flowing in a channel in which fouling layers are allowed to form on the channel walls is investigated by numerical simulation. A two-dimensional phase diagram with at least four different behaviors is constructed. The fouling is modeled by attachment during collision with the deposits and by detachment caused by large enough hydrodynamic drag. For fixed total number of particles and small Reynolds numbers, the relevant parameters governing the fouling dynamics are the solid volume fraction of the suspension and the detachment drag force threshold. Below a critical curve in this 2D phase space only transient fouling takes place when the suspension is accelerated from rest by a pressure gradient. Above the fouling transition line, persistent fouling layers are formed via ballistic deposition for low and via homogeneous deposition for large solid volume fractions. Close to the fouling transition line, the flow path between the deposited layers meanders, while necking appears for increasing distance from the transition. Finally, another transition to a fully blocked flow path takes place. As determined by the estimated amount of deposited particles at saturation, both transitions seem to be discontinuous. Large fluctuations and long saturation times are typical of the dynamics of the system.     

Directed transient long-range transport in a slowly driven Hamiltonian system of interacting particles

We study the Hamiltonian dynamics of a one-dimensional chain of linearly coupled particles in a spatially periodic potential which is subjected to a time-periodic mono-frequency external field. The average over time and space of the related force vanishes and hence, the system is effectively without bias which excludes any ratchet effect. We pay special attention to the escape of the entire chain when initially all of its units are distributed in a potential well. Moreover for an escaping chain we explore the possibility of the successive generation of a directed flow based on large accelerations. We find that for adiabatic slope-modulations due to the ac-field transient long-range transport dynamics arises whose direction is governed by the initial phase of the modulation. Most strikingly, that for the driven many particle Hamiltonian system directed collective motion is observed provides evidence for the existence of families of transporting invariant tori confining orbits in ballistic channels in the high-dimensional phase spaces.     

Activated Random Walkers: Facts, Conjectures and Challenges

We study a particle system with hopping (random walk) dynamics on the integer lattice ? ^d . The particles can exist in two states, active or inactive (sleeping); only the former can hop. The dynamics conserves the number of particles; there is no limit on the number of particles at a given site. Isolated active particles fall asleep at rate λ>0, and then remain asleep until joined by another particle at the same site. The state in which all particles are inactive is absorbing. Whether activity continues at long times depends on the relation between the particle density ζ and the sleeping rate λ. We discuss the general case, and then, for the one-dimensional totally asymmetric case, study the phase transition between an active phase (for sufficiently large particle densities and/or small λ) and an absorbing one. We also present arguments regarding the asymptotic mean hopping velocity in the active phase, the rate of fixation in the absorbing phase, and survival of the infinite system at criticality. Using mean-field theory and Monte Carlo simulation, we locate the phase boundary. The phase transition appears to be continuous in both the symmetric and asymmetric versions of the process, but the critical behavior is very different. The former case is characterized by simple integer or rational values for critical exponents (β=1, for example), and the phase diagram is in accord with the prediction of mean-field theory. We present evidence that the symmetric version belongs to the universality class of conserved stochastic sandpiles, also known as conserved directed percolation. Simulations also reveal an interesting transient phenomenon of damped oscillations in the activity density.     

Acceleration Modes in Fermi Accelerator

We explain Fermi acceleration of particles bouncing in a gravitational field and experiencing a force due to a modulated evanescent laser field. The acceleration strongly depends upon the initial conditions in the phase space and certain modulation amplitude. We study the accelerated modes by the Poincaré surface of sections and Lyapunov exponents. Furthermore, we identify the initial areas of the phase space that support accelerated dynamics and write a mapping for accelerated dynamics. We show that a distinction between accelerated and chaotic evolutions can be made with the help of the aspect ratio. The Lyapunov exponent shows that the accelerated mode supports ordered evolution.     

Classical dynamics near the triple collision in a three-body Coulomb problem

We investigate the classical motion of three charged particles with both attractive and repulsive interactions. The triple collision is a main source of chaos in such three-body Coulomb problems. By employing the McGehee scaling technique, we analyze here for the first time in detail the three-body dynamics near the triple collision in 3 degrees of freedom. We reveal surprisingly simple dynamical patterns in large parts of the chaotic phase space. The underlying degree of order in the form of approximate Markov partitions may help in understanding the global structures observed in quantum spectra of two-electron atoms.