Nonequilibrium phase transitions in coordinated biological motion: critical fluctuations

We report the results of experiments on biological motion demonstrating the presence of critical order parameter fluctuations as the system evolves from one coordinated state to another at a critical control parameter value. This is a key feature of nonequilibrium phase transitions.     

Dynamical quantum phase transitions in the dissipative Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model with proposed realization in optical cavity QED

We present an optical cavity QED configuration that is described by a dissipative version of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model of an infinitely coordinated spin system. This open quantum system exhibits both first- and second-order nonequilibrium quantum phase transitions as a single, effective field parameter is varied. Light emitted from the cavity offers measurable signatures of the critical behavior, including that of the spin-spin entanglement.     

Universality class of nonequilibrium phase transitions with infinitely many absorbing states

We consider systems whose steady states exhibit a nonequilibrium phase transition from an active state to one-among an infinite number-absorbing state, as some control parameter is varied across a threshold value. The pair contact process, stochastic fixed-energy sandpiles, activated random walks, and many other cellular automata or reaction-diffusion processes are covered by our analysis. We argue that the upper-critical dimension below which anomalous fluctuation driven scaling appears is d(c)=6, in contrast to a widespread belief. We provide the exponents governing the critical behavior close to or at the transition point to first order in an epsilon =6-d expansion.     

Interband phase modes and nonequilibrium soliton structures in two-gap superconductors

We predict a new dynamic state in current-carrying superconductors with a multicomponent order parameter. If the current density J exceeds a critical value J(t), an interband breakdown caused by charge imbalance of nonequilibrium quasiparticles occurs. For J>J(t), the electric field penetrating from current leads gives rise to various static and dynamic soliton phase textures, and voltage oscillations similar to the nonstationary Josephson effect. We propose experiments to observe these effects which would probe the multicomponent nature of the superconducting order parameter.     

Universal scaling behavior at the upper critical dimension of nonequilibrium continuous phase transitions

In this work we analyze the universal scaling functions and the critical exponents at the upper critical dimension of a continuous phase transition. The consideration of the universal scaling behavior yields a decisive check of the value of the upper critical dimension. We apply our method to a nonequilibrium continuous phase transition. By focusing on the equation of state of the phase transition it is easy to extend our analysis to all equilibrium and nonequilibrium phase transitions observed numerically or experimentally.     

Nonequilibrium relaxation and critical aging for driven Ising lattice gases

We employ Monte?Carlo simulations to study the nonequilibrium relaxation of driven Ising lattice gases in two dimensions. Whereas the temporal scaling of the density autocorrelation function in the nonequilibrium steady state does not allow a precise measurement of the critical exponents, these can be accurately determined from the aging scaling of the two-time autocorrelations and the order parameter evolution following a quench to the critical point. We obtain excellent agreement with renormalization group predictions based on the standard Langevin representation of driven Ising lattice gases.     

Self-synchronization of populations of nonlinear oscillators in the thermodynamic limit

A population of identical nonlinear oscillators, subject to random forces and coupled via a mean-field interaction, is studied in the thermodynamic limit. The model presents a nonequilibrium phase transition from a stationary to a time-periodic probability density. Below the transition line, the population of oscillators is in a quiescent state with order parameter equal to zero. Above the transition line, there is a state of collective rhythmicity characterized by a time-periodic behavior of the order parameter and all moments of the probability distribution. The information entropy of the ensemble is a constant both below and above the critical line. Analytical and numerical analyses of the model are provided.     

Predictive Information in a Nonequilibrium Critical Model

We propose predictive information, that is, information between a long past of duration T and the entire infinitely long future of a time series, as a general order parameter to study phase transitions in physical systems independently of the underlying dynamics. It can be used, in particular, to study nonequilibrium transitions and other exotic transitions, where a simpler order parameter cannot be identified using traditional symmetry arguments. As an example, we calculate predictive information for a stochastic nonequilibrium dynamics problem that forms an absorbing state under a continuous change of a parameter. The information at the transition point diverges as ∝logT, and we calculate the expression for a smooth crossover to ∝T ⁰ away from the transition.     

Generic Two-Phase Coexistence and Nonequilibrium Criticality in a Lattice Version of Schlögl’s Second Model for Autocatalysis

A two-dimensional atomistic realization of Schlögl’s second model for autocatalysis is implemented and studied on a square lattice as a prototypical nonequilibrium model with first-order transition. The model has no explicit symmetry and its phase transition can be viewed as the nonequilibrium counterpart of liquid-vapor phase separations. We show some familiar concepts from study of equilibrium systems need to be modified. Most importantly, phase coexistence can be a generic feature of the model, occurring over a finite region of the parameter space. The first-order transition becomes continuous as a temperature-like variable increases. The associated critical behavior is studied through Monte Carlo simulations and shown to be in the two-dimensional Ising universality class. However, some common expectations regarding finite-size corrections and fractal properties of geometric clusters for equilibrium systems seems to be inapplicable.     

Nonequilibrium steady states of stochastic lattice gas models of fast ionic conductors

We investigate theoretically and via computer simulation the stationary nonequilibrium states of a stochastic lattice gas under the influence of a uniform external fieldE. The effect of the field is to bias jumps in the field direction and thus produce a current carrying steady state. Simulations on a periodic 30 × 30 square lattice with attractive nearest-neighbor interactions suggest a nonequilibrium phase transition from a disordered phase to an ordered one, similar to the para-to-ferromagnetic transition in equilibriumE=0. At low temperatures and largeE the system segregates into two phases with an interface oriented parallel to the field. The critical temperature is larger than the equilibrium Onsager value atE=0 and increases with the field. For repulsive interactions the usual equilibrium phase transition (ordering on sublattices) is suppressed. We report on conductivity, bulk diffusivity, structure function, etc. in the steady state over a wide range of temperature and electric field. We also present rigorous proofs of the Kubo formula for bulk diffusivity and electrical conductivity and show the positivity of the entropy production for a general class of stochastic lattice gases in a uniform electric field.Supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant DMR81-14726 and NATO Grant 040.82.Work supported in part by a Lafayette College Junior Faculty Leave Grant.Work supported in part by a Heisenberg fellowship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Conservative ensembles for nonequilibrium lattice-gas systems

We show how to set up a constant particle ensemble for the steady state of nonequilibrium lattice-gas systems which originally are defined on a constant rate ensemble. We focus on nonequilibrium systems in which particles are created and annihilated on the sites of a lattice and described by a master equation. We consider also the case in which a quantity other than the number of particle is conserved. The conservative ensembles can be useful in the study of phase transitions and critical phenomena particularly discontinuous phase transitions.     

Nonequilibrium lattice models: Series analysis of steady states

A perturbation theory for steady states of interacting particle systems is developed and applied to several lattice models with nonequilibrium critical points near an absorbing state. The expansion is expressed directly in terms of the kinetic parameter (creation rate), rather than in powers of the interaction. An algorithm for generating series expansions for local properties is described. Order parameter series (16 terms) and precise estimates of critical properties are presented for the one-dimensional contact process and several related models.     

Two-Point Correlations and Critical Line of the Driven Ising Lattice Gas in a High-Temperature Expansion

Based on a high-temperature expansion, we compute the two-point correlation function and the critical line of an Ising lattice gas driven into a nonequilibrium steady state by a uniform bias E. The lowest nontrivial order already reproduces the key features, i.e., the discontinuity singularity of the structure factor and the (qualitative) E dependence of the critical line. Our approach is easily generalized to other nonequilibrium lattice models and provides a simple analytic tool for the study of the high-temperature phase and its boundaries.     

Nonequilibrium dynamics of the zeta urn model

We consider a mean-field dynamical urn model, defined by rules which give the rate at which a ball is drawn from an urn and put in another one, chosen amongst an assembly. At equilibrium, this model possesses a fluid and a condensed phase, separated by a critical line. We present an analytical study of the nonequilibrium properties of the fluctuating number of balls in a given urn, considering successively the temporal evolution of its distribution, of its two-time correlation and response functions, and of the associated fluctuation-dissipation ratio, both along the critical line and in the condensed phase. For well separated times the fluctuation-dissipation ratio admits non-trivial limit values, both at criticality and in the condensed phase, which are universal quantities depending continuously on temperature.     

Time-dependent perturbation theory for nonequilibrium lattice models

We develop a time-dependent perturbation theory for nonequilibrium interacting particle systems. We focus on models such as the contact process which evolve via destruction and autocatalytic creation of particles. At a critical value of the destruction rate there is a continuous phase transition between an active steady state and the vacuum state, which is absorbing. We present several methods for deriving series for the evolution starting from a single seed particle, including expansions for the ultimate survival probability in the super- and subcritical regions, expansions for the average number of particles in the subcritical region, and short-time expansions. Algorithms for computer generation of the various expansions are presented. Rather long series (24 terms or more) and precise estimates of critical parameters are presented.     

Nonequilibrium quantum criticality in open electronic systems

A theory is presented of quantum criticality in open (coupled to reservoirs) itinerant-electron magnets, with nonequilibrium drive provided by current flow across the system. Both departures from equilibrium at conventional (equilibrium) quantum critical points and the physics of phase transitions induced by the nonequilibrium drive are treated. Nonequilibrium-induced phase transitions are found to have the same leading critical behavior as conventional thermal phase transitions.     

Nonequilibrium quantum phase transition in itinerant electron systems

We study the effect of the voltage bias on the ferromagnetic phase transition in a one-dimensional itinerant electron system. The applied voltage drives the system into a nonequilibrium steady state with a nonzero electric current. The bias changes the universality class of the second order ferromagnetic transition. While the equilibrium transition belongs to the universality class of the uniaxial ferroelectric, we find the mean-field behavior near the nonequilibrium critical point.     

Universality class of absorbing phase transitions with a conserved field

We investigate the critical behavior of systems exhibiting a continuous absorbing phase transition in the presence of a conserved field coupled to the order parameter. The results obtained point out the existence of a new universality class of nonequilibrium phase transitions that characterizes a vast set of systems including conserved threshold transfer processes and stochastic sandpile models.     

Relaxation and persistent oscillations of the order parameter in fermionic condensates

We determine the limiting dynamics of a fermionic condensate following a sudden perturbation for various initial conditions. Possible initial states of the condensate fall into two classes. In the first case, the order parameter asymptotes to a constant value. The approach to a constant is oscillatory with an inverse square root decay. This happens, e.g., when the strength of pairing is abruptly changed while the system is in the paired ground state and more generally for any nonequilibrium state that is in the same class as the ground state. In the second case, the order parameter exhibits persistent oscillations with several frequencies. This is realized for nonequilibrium states that belong to the same class as excited stationary states.     

Inertial Effects in Nonequilibrium Work Fluctuations by a Path Integral Approach

Inertial effects in fluctuations of the work to sustain a system in a nonequilibrium steady state are discussed for a dragged massive Brownian particle model using a path integral approach. We calculate the work distribution function in the laboratory and comoving frames and prove the asymptotic fluctuation theorem for these works for any initial condition. Important and observable differences between the work fluctuations in the two frames appear for finite times and are discussed concretely for a nonequilibrium steady state initial condition. We also show that for finite times a time oscillatory behavior appears in the work distribution function for masses larger than a nonzero critical value.