Generalized nonlinear master equations for local fluctuations: Dimensionality expansions and augmented mean field theory

By application of a projection operator technique we derive a formally exact generalization of the nonlinear mean field master equation introduced recently for the study of local fluctuations in a reacting medium. Our starting point is a phenomenological cell master equation. The results of our theory are applicable to the theory of a fluctuating hydrodynamic reacting system. The mean field equation is placed on a firm theoretical foundation by showing it to be the lowest order approximation in an expansion in the dimensionality of the physical space keeping the product of the number of nearest neighbors (an increasing function of dimensionality) and the typical diffusion coefficient constant. A more accurate nonlinear master equation that allows for the correlation and fluctuations in the environment of a given volume element is derived in the form of an augmented mean field equation.Work supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.