Continuum description of anomalous diffusion on a comb structure

Anomalous diffusion on a comb structure consisting of a one-dimensional backbone and lateral branches (teeth) of random length is considered. A well-defined classification of the trajectories of random walks reduces the original problem to an analysis of classical diffusion on the backbone, where, however, the time of this process is a random quantity. Its distribution is dictated by the properties of the random walks of the diffusing particles on the teeth. The feasibility of applying mean-field theory in such a model is demonstrated, and the equation for the Green’s function with a partial derivative of fractional order is obtained. The characteristic features of the propagation of particles on a comb structure are analyzed. We obtain a model of an effective homogeneous medium in which diffusion is described by an equation with a fractional derivative with respect to time and an initial condition that is an integral of fractional order. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 1284–1312 (October 1998)     

Random walk on hierarchical comb structures

This paper examines random walks on an exactly solvable comb model of percolation clusters. The study shows that diffusion along the structure’s axis is anomalous. Generalized diffusion equations with fractional-order time derivatives are derived, and a generalization to the multidimensional case is carried out. The relationship between this problem and that of diffusion in a medium with traps is examined, and equations that describe diffusion in a medium with traps are derived. The paper also discusses the transition to ordinary diffusion due to the introduction of comb teeth of finite length, and analyzes the case of N teeth of different length. It is shown that the solution of this problem leads to the emergence of an N-channel diffusion equation. Finally, equations describing the diffusion of interacting electrons are derived. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1285–1296 (April 1999)     

Anomalous diffusion expressed through fractional order differential operators in the Bloch-Torrey equation

Diffusion weighted MRI is used clinically to detect and characterize neurodegenerative, malignant and ischemic diseases. The correlation between developing pathology and localized diffusion relies on diffusion-weighted pulse sequences to probe biophysical models of molecular diffusion-typically exp[-(bD)]-where D is the apparent diffusion coefficient (mm(2)/s) and b depends on the specific gradient pulse sequence parameters. Several recent studies have investigated the so-called anomalous diffusion stretched exponential model-exp[-(bD)(alpha)], where alpha is a measure of tissue complexity that can be derived from fractal models of tissue structure. In this paper we propose an alternative derivation for the stretched exponential model using fractional order space and time derivatives. First, we consider the case where the spatial Laplacian in the Bloch-Torrey equation is generalized to incorporate a fractional order Brownian model of diffusivity. Second, we consider the case where the time derivative in the Bloch-Torrey equation is replaced by a Riemann-Liouville fractional order time derivative expressed in the Caputo form. Both cases revert to the classical results for integer order operations. Fractional order dynamics derived for the first case were observed to fit the signal attenuation in diffusion-weighted images obtained from Sephadex gels, human articular cartilage and human brain. Future developments of this approach may be useful for classifying anomalous diffusion in tissues with developing pathology.     

Unequal twins: probability distributions do not determine everything

It is the common lore to assume that knowing the equation for the probability distribution function (PDF) of a stochastic model as a function of time tells the whole picture defining all other characteristics of the model. We show that this is not the case by comparing two exactly solvable models of anomalous diffusion due to geometric constraints: the comb model and the random walk on a random walk. We show that though the two models have exactly the same PDFs, they differ in other respects, like their first passage time distributions, their autocorrelation functions, and their aging properties.     

Generalized Fick law for anomalous diffusion in the multidimensional comb model

The problem of multidimensional diffusion is considered within the framework of the comb model. It is shown that the diffusion current for the case of anomalous subdiffusion random walks is described by the generalized Fick law containing the diffusion tensor instead of the usual coefficient. The form of the diffusion tensor components is an unusual form of operator as fractional time derivatives. The orders of the fractional exponents are different for different directions.     

Diffusion in a heterogeneous medium for low concentrations

The equations describing diffusion on a heterogeneous lattice for low concentrations are considered taking into account lattice site blocking. It is shown that lattice site blocking cannot be disregarded in the case of a strongly heterogeneous lattice even for low concentrations. It is established that the equation with a fractional time derivative holds only in a bounded time interval. Anomalous diffusion, which is described by the equation with a fractional time derivative at the initial stage, must be described over long time periods by an ordinary diffusion equation with a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient.     

Model of diffusion-drift charge carrier transport in layers with a fractal structure

A new theoretical (semiempirical) model of diffusion-drift charge carrier transport in layers with a fractal structure based on a partial differential equation with a fractional time derivative has been proposed. It has been shown by numerical calculations that a decrease in the order of the fractional derivative in the presence of the external electric field leads to broadening and asymmetry of the spatial distributions of charge carriers, which physically corresponds to intensification of scattering processes.     

Results for a fractional diffusion equation with a nonlocal term in spherical symmetry

We obtain time dependent solutions for a fractional diffusion equation containing a nonlocal term by considering the spherical symmetry and using the Green function approach. The nonlocal term incorporated in the diffusion equation may also be related to the spatial and time fractional derivative and introduces different regimes of spreading of the solution with the time evolution. In addition, a rich class of anomalous diffusion processes may be described from the results obtained here.     

Anomalous diffusion on a fractal: A first passage time problem

We consider a model for anomalous diffusion on a self-similar hierarchical structure investigated first by Wegner and Grossmann. It is shown that this problem is equivalent to a first passage time problem which can be solved using the well known renewal equation technique.     

Physical mechanisms of power fractal asymptotic forms of dispersion transport in disordered media

Particle drift in systems with anomalous diffusion is investigated. Physical mechanisms of power fractal asymptotic forms in dispersion transport are established and the physical meaning of the characteristic changeover time for asymptotic forms is clarified. It is shown that long-term power fractal asymptotic forms for particle mobility in subdiffusion problems corresponding to the behavior of transition currents in disordered systems (i.e., having different asymptotic forms for short and long time intervals) are associated with capture in traps (ribs in the comb structure).     

The nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation with state-dependent diffusion - a nonextensive maximum entropy approach

Nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations (e.g., the diffusion equation for porous medium) are important candidates for describing anomalous diffusion in a variety of systems. In this paper we introduce such nonlinear Fokker-Planck equations with general state-dependent diffusion, thus significantly generalizing the case of constant diffusion which has been discussed previously. An approximate maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach based on the Tsallis nonextensive entropy is developed for the study of these equations. The MaxEnt solutions are shown to preserve the functional relation between the time derivative of the entropy and the time dependent solution. In some particular important cases of diffusion with power-law multiplicative noise, our MaxEnt scheme provides exact time dependent solutions. We also prove that the stationary solutions of the nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation with diffusion of the (generalized) Stratonovich type exhibit the Tsallis MaxEnt form. Received 26 February 1999     

Anomalous thermal bleaching of color centers in calcium fluorapatite

A study has been made of the radiation-induced paramagnetic color centers in calcium fluorapatite on annealing. It is found that there is an anomalous increase in the center concentration during isothermal annealing. An explanation is given via a model for diffusion of point defects and groups involving charge redistribution. It is found that the dislocation structure affects the thermal bleaching of the color centers.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 34–37, April, 1975.     

Anomalous Dimension in the Solution of a Nonlinear Diffusion Equation

A new method is used to obtain the anomalous dimension in the solution of the nonlinear diffusion equation.The result is the same as that in the renormalization group (RG) approach.It gives us an insight into the anomalous dimension in the solution of the nonlinear diffusion equation in the RG approach.Based on this discussion,we can see anomalous dimension appears naturally in this system.``     

Anomalous Dimension in the Solution of a Nonlinear Diffusion Equation

A new method is used to obtain the anomalous dimension in the solution of the nonlinear diffusion equation.The result is the same as that in the renormalization group (RG) approach.It gives us an insight into the anomalous dimension in the solution of the nonlinear diffusion equation in the RG approach.Based on this discussion,we can see anomalous dimension appears naturally in this system.     

Solutions for a non-Markovian diffusion equation

Solutions for a non-Markovian diffusion equation are investigated. For this equation, we consider a spatial and time dependent diffusion coefficient and the presence of an absorbent term. The solutions exhibit an anomalous behavior which may be related to the solutions of fractional diffusion equations and anomalous diffusion.     

Exact Solutions of a Generalized Multi-Fractional Nonlinear Diffusion Equation in Radical Symmetry

This paper is devoted to investigating exact solutions of a generalized fractional nonlinear anomalous diffusion equation in radical symmetry. The presence of external force and absorption is also considered. We first investigate the nonlinear anomalous diffusion equations with one-fractional derivative and then multi-fractional ones. In both situations, we obtain the corresponding exact solutions, and the solutions found here can have a compact behavior or a long tailed behavior.     

Anomalous diffusion and memory effects on the impedance spectroscopy for finite-length situations

The contribution of ions to the electrical impedance of an electrolytic cell limited by perfect blocking electrodes is determined by considering the role of the anomalous diffusion process and memory effects. Analytical solutions for fractional diffusion equations together with Poisson's equation relating the effective electric field to the net charge density are found. This procedure allows the construction of general expressions for the electrochemical impedance satisfying the Kramers-Kronig relations when the diffusion of ions in the cell is characterized by the usual, as well as by anomalous, behavior.     

Diffusion and relaxation of the fractional order in fractal media in the classical and quantum cases

Two model examples of the application of fractional calculus are considered. The Riemann–Liouville fractional derivative with 0 < α ≤ 1 was used. The solution of a fractional equation, which describes anomalous relaxation and diffusion in an isotropic fractal space, has been obtained in the form of the product of a Fox function by a Mittag-Leffler function. The solution is simpler than that given in Ref. 6 and it generalizes the result reported in Ref. 7. For the quantum case, a solution of the generalized Neumann–Kolmogorov fractional quantum-statistical equation has been obtained for an incomplete statistical operator which describes the random walk of a quantum spin particle, retarded in traps over a fractal space. The solution contains contributions from quantum Mittag-Leffler (nonharmonic) fractional oscillations, anomalous relaxation, noise fractional oscillations, and exponential fractional diffusion oscillation damping.