Global stationary phase and the sign problem

We present a computational strategy for reducing the sign problem in the evaluation of high dimensional integrals with nonpositive definite weights whose logarithms are analytic. The method involves stochastic sampling with a positive semidefinite weight that is adaptively and optimally determined during the course of a simulation. The optimal criterion, which follows from a variational principle for analytic actions S(z), is a global stationary phase condition that the average gradient of the phase ImS along the sampling path vanishes. Numerical results are presented from simulations of a model adapted from statistical field theories of classical fluids.     

Second-order phase transition induced by deterministic fluctuations in aperiodic eight-state Potts models

We investigate the influence of aperiodic modulations of the exchange interactions between nearest-neighbour rows on the phase transition of the two-dimensional eight-state Potts model. The systems are studied numerically through intensive Monte-Carlo simulations using the Swendsen-Wang cluster algorithm for different aperiodic sequences. The transition point is located through duality relations, and the critical behaviour is investigated using FSS techniques at criticality. While the pure system exhibits a first-order transition, we show that the deterministic fluctuations resulting from the aperiodic coupling distribution are liable to modify drastically the physical properties in the neighbourhood of the transition point. For strong enough fluctuations of the sequence under consideration, a second-order phase transition is induced. The exponents , and are obtained at the new fixed point and crossover effects are discussed. Surface properties are also studied. Received: 18 March 1998 / Revised: 29 June 1998 / Accepted: 10 September 1998     

On the nonequilibrium phase transition in reaction-diffusion systems with an absorbing stationary state

It is pointed out that chemical reactions which show an absorbing stationary state in the master-equation approach (e.g. Schlögl's first reaction) exhibit nevertheless a second order phase transition in non-zero dimensional macroscopic systems. The relation to Reggeon field theory is given more directly than by Grassberger et al. using the functional integral formalism of statistical dynamics. As a new result the correlation length exponent and the order parameter exponent are found toO(²) in an -expansion around the upper critical dimensiond _c=4.     

Exact stationary probability distribution for a simple model of a nonequilibrium phase transition

We derive the exact stationary probability distribution for the coupled system of Langevin equationsd _t u=u–u s,d _t s=–s+d ²+F(t).     

Entropy production and time asymmetry in nonequilibrium fluctuations

The time-reversal symmetry of nonequilibrium fluctuations is experimentally investigated in two out-of-equilibrium systems: namely, a Brownian particle in a trap moving at constant speed and an electric circuit with an imposed mean current. The dynamical randomness of their nonequilibrium fluctuations is characterized in terms of the standard and time-reversed entropies per unit time of dynamical systems theory. We present experimental results showing that their difference equals the thermodynamic entropy production in units of Boltzmann's constant.     

Spin fluctuations of nonequilibrium electrons and excitons in semiconductors

Effects that are related to deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium have a special place in modern physics. Among these, nonequilibrium phenomena in quantum systems attract the highest interest. The experimental technique of spin-noise spectroscopy has became quite widespread, which makes it possible to observe spin fluctuations of charge carriers in semiconductors under both equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. This calls for the development of a theory of spin fluctuations of electrons and electron–hole complexes for nonequilibrium conditions. In this paper, we consider a range of physical situations where a deviation from equilibrium becomes pronounced in the spin noise. A general method for the calculation of electron and exciton spin fluctuations in a nonequilibrium state is proposed. A short review of the theoretical and experimental results in this area is given.     

Character of fluctuations in deterministically thermostatted nonequilibrium systems

The application of Nose-Hoover equations of motion to analysis of stationary nonequilibrium systems-driven away from equilibrium by inherent thermostatting-is briefly discussed. The Galton board model, to which the analysis does apply, is described. Numerical simulations of this specific model suggest that the system exhibits 1/f(k) noise, with 1相似文献   

Note on phase space contraction and entropy production in thermostatted Hamiltonian systems

The phase space contraction and the entropy production rates of Hamiltonian systems in an external field, thermostatted to obtain a stationary state, are considered. While for stationary states with a constant kinetic energy the two rates are formally equal for all numbers of particles N, for stationary states with constant total (kinetic and potential) energy this only obtains for large N. However, in both cases a large number of particles is required to obtain equality with the entropy production rate of Irreversible Thermodynamics. Consequences of this for the positivity of the transport coefficients and for the Onsager relations are discussed. Numerical results are presented for the special case of the Lorentz gas. (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics.     

Global and local fluctuations in multiplicity and transverse energy for central ultra-relativistic heavy-ion interactions

We present results from a comparison between experimental data and model calculations, in this case represented by the Fritiof model, regarding global and local fluctuations in the distributions of transverse energy and charged particle multiplicity. The results indicate that the observed fluctuations originate predominantly from the distribution of emitting sources, i.e. either the number of participating nucleons or the number of binary collisions. The apparently larger widths of the distributions observed in restricted regions of phase space, are explained to be of purely statistical nature. As a result of the analysis the cross section for events with energy densities much larger than the typical value for a central collision is limited. The very small scales, normally associated with studies of intermittent behaviour, are not within the scope of this paper. The results of the analysis are essentially independent of whether intermittence is of importance in the reactions or not.     

Scaling properties of fluctuations in stationary turbulence

Turbulent fluctuations are treated using a stationary distribution functionw _st for an order parameter field representing a fluid. Naive scale invariance ofw _st yields thek ^–5/3 spectral law in three dimensions andk ^–3 in two dimensions. The noise parameter of the stationary distribution is connected with energy flow or enstrophy conservation, respectively. In order to include fluctuations of the local energy dissipation a grand distribution function is introduced.     

Universal behavior of nonequilibrium fluctuations in free diffusion processes

We show that giant nonequilibrium fluctuations are present during the free diffusive remixing occurring in ordinary liquid mixtures and in macromolecular solutions. The static structure factor of the fluctuations is measured by using a quantitative shadowgraph technique. We show that structure factors at different times and from different samples can be rescaled onto a single master curve without any adjustable parameter, thus giving strong evidence that nonequilibrium fluctuations are a universal feature of free diffusion processes.     

Order and fluctuations in nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of two-dimensional fluids

Finite systems of hard disks placed in a temperature gradient and in an external constant field have been studied, simulating a fluid heated from below. We used the methods of nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. The goal was to observe the onset of convection in the fluid. Systems of more than 5000 particles have been considered and the choice of parameters has been made in order to have a Rayleigh number larger than the critical one calculated from the hydrodynamic equations. The appearance of rolls and the large fluctuations in the velocity field are the main features of these simulations.     

First-order phase transition in a (1+1)-dimensional nonequilibrium wetting process

A model for nonequilibrium wetting in 1+1 dimensions is introduced. It comprises adsorption and desorption processes with a dynamics that generically does not obey detailed balance. Depending on the rates of the dynamical processes the wetting transition is either of first or second order. It is found that the wet (unbound) and the nonwet (pinned) states coexist and are both thermodynamically stable in a domain of the dynamical parameters that define the model. This is in contrast with equilibrium transitions where coexistence of thermodynamically stable states takes place only on the transition line.     

Traveling waves and nonequilibrium stationary patterns in two-component reactive langmuir monolayers

A simple kinetic model of a two-component phase-separating Langmuir monolayer with a chemical reaction is proposed. Its analysis and numerical simulations show that nonequilibrium periodic stationary structures and patterns of traveling stripes can spontaneously develop. The nonequilibrium phase diagram of this system is constructed and the properties of the patterns are discussed.     

Semi-classical phase space approach for the charge equilibration fluctuations in heavy ion reactions

The fluctuations of the isobaric distributions in deep inelastic collisions are related to the in-phase excitation of the isovector giant dipole resonances of each nucleus. The characteristics of the zero point motion are obtained by the phase space approach method. The calculations are performed for various systems as a function of the interdistance between the collision partners. Estimations are given for density overlap corresponding to the top of the fusion barrier.     

Charting the invisible in phase space (Abstract only)

One challenge in particle physics is that not all the momenta relevant to many processes are observable. Some particles are nearly invisible (neutrinos and hypothetical neutralinos), others escape undetected down the beam pipes of colliders. One faces the task of extracting the maximum information (e.g. on the mass of the unobserved particles) from a set of more unknowns than constraining energy?Cmomentum conservation equations. We study the simplest realistic case of current interest: single-W production at a hadron collider, followed by its leptonic decay. We derive and discuss the statistically-optimal ??singularity variable?? relevant to the measurement of the W mass. In spite of its simplicity, this process is fairly non-trivial and constitutes a good ??training?? example for the scrutiny of phenomena involving invisible objects. Our graphical analysis of the phase space is akin to that of a Dalitz plot, extended to such processes.