Equilibrium states of gravitational systems

We formulate the equilibrium correlation functions for local observables of an assembly of non-relativistic, neutral gravitating fermions in the limit where the number of particles becomes infinite, and in a scaling where the region , to which they are confined, remains fixed. We show that these correlation functions correspond, in the limit concerned, to states on the discrete tensor product , where the are copies of the gauge invariantC*-algebra of the CAR overL ²(R ³). The equilibrium states themselves are then given by , where , is the Gibbs state on for an infinitely extended ideal Fermi gas at density , and where ₀ is the normalised density function that minimises the Thomas-Fermi functional, obtained in [2], governing the equilibrium thermodynamics of the system.     

Equilibrium states for classical systems

It is shown that the Dobrushin-Lanford-Ruelle equations for the probability measure μ, and the Kirkwood-Salsburg type equations for the lattice or continuum correlation functions ?, and for the spin correlation functions σ, are essentially equivalent for all ?, σ, and μ satisfying certain boundedness conditions. It is also noted that the lattice equations are identical to the equations for the stationary states of a certain Markoff process. This extends previous results of Ruelle, Brascamp and Holley who proved some of these equivalences for states.     

Equilibrium and metastable states of classical systems

We formulate a characterization of equilibrium and metastable states of classical hard-core continuous systems in terms of certain global and local stability conditions. The equilibrium states are assumed to be those that are both locally and globally stable; the metastable states are assumed to be those that are locally, but not globally, stable, and that possess also a certain restricted global stability. It is found that a certain specified class of systems with appropriately weakly tempered, or long range forces, can support metastable states, possessing bona fide thermodynamic properties, whose pressure functions are real analytic continuations in the chemical potential of those of some equilibrium phases. This result is complementary to that of Lanford and Ruelle, concerning the absence of metastable states of systems with strongly tempered forces.     

Characterization of states of infinite boson systems

In the present paper we deal with the problem of existence and uniqueness of the conditional reduced density matrix (c.r.d.m.) corresponding to a locally normal state of a boson system. The c.r.d.m. was introduced in [3] (Part I of the present series of papers). In order to characterize the class of states possessing a c.r.d.m. we will introduce the family of conditional states of a locally normal state, and we will discuss the relation between the conditional states, the c.r.d.m. and the conditional distribution of the position distribution of the state.     

Characterization of states of infinite boson systems

In a previous paper [11] it was shown that to each locally normal state of a boson system one can associate a point process that can be interpreted as the position distribution of the state. In the present paper the so-called conditional reduced density matrix of a normal or locally normal state is introduced. The whole state is determined completely by its position distribution and this function. There are given sufficient conditions on a point processQ and a functionk ensuring the existence of a state such thatQ is its position distribution andk its conditional reduced density matrix. Several examples will show that these conditions represent effective and useful criteria to construct locally normal states of boson systems. Especially, we will sketch an approach to equilibrium states of infinite boson systems. Further, we consider a class of operators on the Fock space representing certain combinations of position measurements and local measurements (observables related to bounded areas). The corresponding expectations can be expressed by the position distribution and the conditional reduced density matrix. This class serves as an important tool for the construction of states of (finite and infinite) boson systems. Especially, operators of second quantization, creation and annihilation operators are of this type. So, independently of the applications in the above context this class of operators may be of some interest.     

Stability and equilibrium states of infinite classical systems

We prove that any stationary state describing an infinite classical system which is stable under local perturbations (and possesses some strong time clustering properties) must satisfy the classical KMS condition. (This in turn implies, quite generally, that it is a Gibbs state.) Similar results have been proven previously for quantum systems by Haag et al. and for finite classical systems by Lebowitz et al.Supported by N.S.F. Grant MPS 71-03375 A03. Part of this work carried out at the Courant Institute where it was supported by N.S.F. Grant GP-37069X.Supported in part by AFOSR Grant #73-2430 and N.S.F. Grant MP S75-20638.Supported by N.S.F. Grant # GP33136X-2. Part of this work was carried out at the Institute for Advanced Study.     

Stationary non-equilibrium states of infinite harmonic systems

We investigate the existence, properties and approach to stationary non-equilibrium states of infinite harmonic crystals. For classical systems these stationary states are, like the Gibbs states, Gaussian measures on the phase space of the infinite system (analogues results are true for quantum systems). Their ergodic properties are the same as those of the equilibrium states: e.g. for ordered periodic crystals they are Bernoulli. Unlike the equilibrium states however they are not stable towards perturbations in the potential.We are particularly concerned here with states in which there is a non-vanishing steady heat flux passing through every point of the infinite system. Such superheat-conducting states are of course only possible in systems in which Fourier's law does not hold: the perfect harmonic crystal being an example of such a system. For a one dimensional system, we find such states (explicitely) as limits, whent, of time evolved initial states _i in which the left and right parts of the infinite crystal are in equilibrium at different temperatures, _L ^–L _R ^–1 , and the middle part is in an arbitrary state. We also investigate the limit of these stationary (t) states as the coupling strength between the system and the reservoirs goes to zero. In this limit we obtain a product state, where the reservoirs are in equilibrium at temperatures _L ^–1 and _R ^–1 and the system is in the unique stationary state of the reduced dynamics in the weak coupling limit.On leave of absence from the Fachbereich Physik der Universität München. Work supported by a Max Kade Foundation FellowshipResearch supported in part by NSF Grant MPS75-20638     

Space-time ergodic properties of systems of infinitely many independent particles

We investigate the ergodic properties of the equilibrium states of systems of infinitely many particles with respect to the group generated by space translations and time evolution. The particles are assumed to move independently in a periodic external field. We show that insofar as good thermodynamic behavior is concerned these properties provide much sharper discrimination than the ergodic properties of the time evolution alone. In particular, we show that though the infinite ideal gas is mixing in the space-time framework, it has vanishing space-time entropy and fails to be a space-timeK-system. On the other hand, if the particles interact with fixed convex scatterers (the Lorentz gas) the system forms a space-timeK-system. Also, the space-time entropy of a system of the type we consider is shown to equal its time entropy per unit volume.Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant No. GP-16147 A No. 1.     

On the number of infinite geodesics and ground states in disordered systems

We study first-passage percolation models and their higher dimensional analogs—models of surfaces with random weights. We prove that under very general conditions the number of lines or, in the second case, hypersurfaces which locally minimize the sum of the random weights is with probability one equal to 0 or with probability one equal to +. As corollaries we show that in any dimensiond2 the number of ground states of an Ising ferromagnet with random coupling constants equals (with probability one) 2 or +. Proofs employ simple large-deviation estimates and ergodic arguments.     

Equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of systems with long-range interactions

We briefly review some equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties of systems with long-range interactions. Such systems, which are characterized by a potential that weakly decays at large distances, have striking properties at equilibrium, like negative specific heat in the microcanonical ensemble, temperature jumps at first order phase transitions, broken ergodicity. Here, we mainly restrict our analysis to mean-field models, where particles globally interact with the same strength. We show that relaxation to equilibrium proceeds through quasi-stationary states whose duration increases with system size. We propose a theoretical explanation, based on Lynden-Bell’s entropy, of this intriguing relaxation process. This allows to address problems related to nonequilibrium using an extension of standard equilibrium statistical mechanics. We discuss in some detail the example of the dynamics of the free electron laser, where the existence and features of quasi-stationary states is likely to be tested experimentally in the future. We conclude with some perspectives to study open problems and to find applications of these ideas to dipolar media.     

Ergodic states in a non commutative ergodic theory

Using the Godement mean of positive-type functions over a groupG, we study -abelian systems { , } of aC*-algebra and a homomorphic mapping of a groupG into the homomorphism group of . Consideration of the Godement mean off(g)U _g withf a positive-type function overG andU a unitary representation ofG first yields a generalized mean-ergodic theorem. We then define the Godement mean off(g) ( _g (A)) withA and a covariant representation of the system { , } for which theG-invariant Hilbert space vectors are cyclic and study its properties, notably in relation with ergodic and weakly mixing states over . Finally we investigate the discrete spectrum of covariant representations of { , } (i.e. the direct sum of the finite-dimensional subrepresentations of the associated representations ofG).On leave of absence from Istituto di Fisica G. Marconi Piazzale delle Scienze 5 — Roma.     

Simulating infinite systems

A new simulation technique for the dynamics of a disordered network of spins is presented. The method is able to treat the infinite system, avoiding finite size effects. Results for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model with asymmetric couplings are given.     

Periodically driven ergodic and many-body localized quantum systems

We study dynamics of isolated quantum many-body systems whose Hamiltonian is switched between two different operators periodically in time. The eigenvalue problem of the associated Floquet operator maps onto an effective hopping problem. Using the effective model, we establish conditions on the spectral properties of the two Hamiltonians for the system to localize in energy space. We find that ergodic systems always delocalize in energy space and heat up to infinite temperature, for both local and global driving. In contrast, many-body localized systems with quenched disorder remain localized at finite energy. We support our conclusions by numerical simulations of disordered spin chains. We argue that our results hold for general driving protocols, and discuss their experimental implications.     

Time-asymptotic boson states from infinite mean field quantum systems coupled to the boson gas

By means of cocycle techniques in a recent paper, the global dynamics of mean field-boson couplings has been studied. Here, by restricting to the bosonic system the infinite time limit (t ) for very general initial states, one obtains time-asymptotic states on the bosonicC ^*-Weyl algebra, in which one partially rediscovers the collective ordering of the infinite mean field lattice.     

On ergodic properties for harmonic crystals

We consider the dynamics of a harmonic crystal in n dimensions with d components, where d and n are arbitrary, d, n ⩾ 1. The initial data are given by a random function with finite mean energy density which also satisfies a Rosenblatt-or Ibragimov-type mixing condition. The random function is close to diverse space-homogeneous processes as x _n → ±∞, with the distributions μ±. We prove that the phase flow is mixing with respect to the limit measure of statistical solutions. Partially supported by RFBR under grant no. 06-01-00096.     

Classical properties of quantum systems in minimum uncertainty states

We derive a necessary condition for the equivalence of the Schrödinger equation with the evolution equation for the marginal coordinate probability density of the Liouville equation and propose an analogon of the quantum Fourier transformation in classical statistical mechanisms. It is shown that this quantum-classical equivalence holds for simple systems in minimum uncertainty states.     

On the ergodic properties of Glauber dynamics

We show that if there is an infinite volume Gibbs measure which satisfies a logarithmic Sobolev inequality with local coefficients of moderate growth, then the corresponding stochastic dynamics decays to equilibrium exponentially fast in the uniform norm.     

Motional narrowing and ergodic bands in excited superdeformed states of 194Hg

The E(gamma) - E(gamma) coincidence spectra from the electromagnetic decay of excited superdeformed states in (194)Hg reveal surprisingly narrow ridges, parallel to the diagonal. A total of 100-150 excited bands are found to contribute to these ridges, which account for nearly all the unresolved E2 decay strength. Comparison with theory suggests that these excited bands have many components in their wave functions, yet they display remarkable rotational coherence. This phenomenon can be explained in terms of the combination of shell effects and motional narrowing.