Solutions of fractional nonlinear diffusion equation and first passage time: Influence of initial condition and diffusion coefficient

We investigate the solutions and the first passage time for anomalous diffusion processes governed by the fractional nonlinear diffusion equation with diffusion coefficient separable in time and space, D(t,x)=D(t)|x|^−θ, subject to absorbing boundary condition and the conventional initial condition p(x,0)=δ(x−x₀). We obtain explicit analytical expressions for the probability distribution, the first passage time distribution, the mean first passage time and the mean squared displacement, and discuss their behavior corresponding to different time dependent diffusion coefficients.     

The precise time-dependent solution of the Fokker–Planck equation with anomalous diffusion

We study the time behavior of the Fokker–Planck equation in Zwanzig’s rule (the backward-Ito’s rule) based on the Langevin equation of Brownian motion with an anomalous diffusion in a complex medium. The diffusion coefficient is a function in momentum space and follows a generalized fluctuation–dissipation relation. We obtain the precise time-dependent analytical solution of the Fokker–Planck equation and at long time the solution approaches to a stationary power-law distribution in nonextensive statistics. As a test, numerically we have demonstrated the accuracy and validity of the time-dependent solution.     

First passage time statistics of Brownian motion with purely time dependent drift and diffusion

Systems where resource availability approaches a critical threshold are common to many engineering and scientific applications and often necessitate the estimation of first passage time statistics of a Brownian motion (Bm) driven by time-dependent drift and diffusion coefficients. Modeling such systems requires solving the associated Fokker-Planck equation subject to an absorbing barrier. Transitional probabilities are derived via the method of images, whose applicability to time dependent problems is shown to be limited to state-independent drift and diffusion coefficients that only depend on time and are proportional to each other. First passage time statistics, such as the survival probabilities and first passage time densities are obtained analytically. The analysis includes the study of different functional forms of the time dependent drift and diffusion, including power-law time dependence and different periodic drivers. As a case study of these theoretical results, a stochastic model of water resources availability in snowmelt dominated regions is presented, where both temperature effects and snow-precipitation input are incorporated.     

Mean first passage time for a class of non-Markovian processes

We determine the probability distribution of the first passage time for a class of non-Markovian processes. This class contains, amongst others, the well-known continuous time random walk (CTRW), which is able to account for many properties of anomalous diffusion processes. In particular, we obtain the mean first passage time for CTRW processes with truncated power-law transition time distribution. Our treatment is based on the fact that the solutions of the non-Markovian master equation can be obtained via an integral transform from a Markovian Langevin process.     

First passage time problems for a class of master equations with separable kernels

We discuss first passage time problems for a class of one-dimensional master equations with separable kernels. For this class of master equations the integral equation for first passage time moments can be transformed exactly into ordinary differential equations. When the separable kernel has only a single term the equation for the mean first passage time obtained is exactly that for simple diffusion. The boundary conditions, however, differ from those appropriate to simple diffusion. The equations for higher moments differ slightly from those for simple diffusion. Analysis is presented, of a generalization of a model of a random walk with long-range jumps first investigated by Lindenberg and Shuler. Since the equations can be solved exactly one can study the behavior of boundary conditions in the continuum limit. The generalization to a larger number of terms in the separable kernel leads to higher order equations for the first passage time moments. In each case, boundary conditions can be found directly from the original master equation.     

Persistent diffusion on a line

We consider solutions to the telegraph equation describing persistent diffusion on a line under various initial conditions. The first passage time distribution is evaluated in closed form. Biased persistent diffusion is also considered. A direct derivation of the telegraph equation from the stochastic equation for the displacement is presented in an appendix.     

A singular perturbation approach to first passage times for Markov jump processes

We introduce singular perturbation methods for constructing asymptotic approximations to the mean first passage time for Markov jump processes. Our methods are applied directly to the integrai equation for the mean first passage time and do not involve the use of diffusion approximations. An absorbing interval condition is used to properly account for the possible jumps of the process over the boundary which leads to a Wiener-Hopf problem in the neighborhood of the boundary. A model of unimolecular dissociation is considered to illustrate our methods.     

麦克斯韦分子速率分布律与扩散方程、扩散系数的初浅推导

从演示统计规律的装置－伽耳顿板实验出发，用初等微积分方法推导高斯误差函数，麦氏速率分布律，扩散方程，扩散系数。     

Similarity solutions of reaction–diffusion equation with space- and time-dependent diffusion and reaction terms

We consider solvability of the generalized reaction–diffusion equation with both space- and time-dependent diffusion and reaction terms by means of the similarity method. By introducing the similarity variable, the reaction–diffusion equation is reduced to an ordinary differential equation. Matching the resulting ordinary differential equation with known exactly solvable equations, one can obtain corresponding exactly solvable reaction–diffusion systems. Several representative examples of exactly solvable reaction–diffusion equations are presented.     

Diffusion in flashing periodic potentials

The one-dimensional overdamped Brownian motion in a symmetric periodic potential modulated by external time-reversible noise is analyzed. The calculation of the effective diffusion coefficient is reduced to the mean first passage time problem. We derive general equations to calculate the effective diffusion coefficient of Brownian particles moving in arbitrary supersymmetric potential modulated by: (i) an external white Gaussian noise and (ii) a Markovian dichotomous noise. For both cases the exact expressions for the effective diffusion coefficient are derived. We obtain acceleration of diffusion in comparison with the free diffusion case for fast fluctuating potentials with arbitrary profile and for sawtooth potential in case (ii). In this case the parameter region where this effect can be observed is given. We obtain also a finite net diffusion in the absence of thermal noise. For rectangular potential the diffusion slows down, for all parameters of noise and of potential, in comparison with the case when particles diffuse freely.     

Residence Time Statistics for Normal and Fractional Diffusion in a Force Field

We investigate statistics of occupation times for an over-damped Brownian particle in an external force field, using a backward Fokker–Planck equation introduced by Majumdar and Comtet. For an arbitrary potential field the distribution of occupation times is expressed in terms of solutions of the corresponding first passage time problem. This general relationship between occupation times and first passage times, is valid for normal Markovian diffusion and for non-Markovian sub-diffusion, the latter modeled using the fractional Fokker–Planck equation. For binding potential fields we find in the long time limit ergodic behavior for normal diffusion, while for the fractional framework weak ergodicity breaking is found, in agreement with previous results of Bel and Barkai on the continuous time random walk on a lattice. For non-binding cases, rich physical behaviors are obtained, and classification of occupation time statistics is made possible according to whether or not the underlying random walk is recurrent and the averaged first return time to the origin is finite. Our work establishes a link between fractional calculus and ergodicity breaking.     

An Integral Algorithm for Numerical Integration of One-Dimensional Additive Colored Noise Problems

We present an integral-closed algorithm for solving a Langevin equation driven by an additive colored noise. Both the mean first passage time in a bistable system and the diffusion current in a titled periodic potential are calculated and the comparison with existing algorithms is carried out. The dependence of the numerical results on the time steps is studied. Our algorithm is shown to have high accuracy and stability.     

Advection and dispersion in time and space

Previous work showed how moving particles that rest along their trajectory lead to time-nonlocal advection–dispersion equations. If the waiting times have infinite mean, the model equation contains a fractional time derivative of order between 0 and 1. In this article, we develop a new advection–dispersion equation with an additional fractional time derivative of order between 1 and 2. Solutions to the equation are obtained by subordination. The form of the time derivative is related to the probability distribution of particle waiting times and the subordinator is given as the first passage time density of the waiting time process which is computed explicitly.     

Propagation-Dispersion Equation

A propagation-dispersion equation is derived for the first passage distribution function of a particle moving on a substrate with time delays. The equation is obtained as the hydrodynamic limit of the first visit equation, an exact microscopic finite difference equation describing the motion of a particle on a lattice whose sites operate as time-delayers. The propagation-dispersion equation should be contrasted with the advection-diffusion equation (or the classical Fokker–Planck equation) as it describes a dispersion process in time (instead of diffusion in space) with a drift expressed by a propagation speed with non-zero bounded values. The temporal dispersion coefficient is shown to exhibit a form analogous to Taylor's dispersivity. Physical systems where the propagation-dispersion equation applies are discussed.     

Diffusion and convection after escape from a potential well

The escape by diffusion of a particle from a potential well in one dimension is strongly influenced by the application of a field in the adjacent half-space. At long times the probability distribution becomes a uniformly moving and steadily broadening gaussian in this half-space. The mean time of escape from the well is given by a simple expression in terms of the mean first passage time and the coefficient of the long-time tail in the occupation probability of the well in the absence of the field. Transient effects in space and time are studied in explicit form for a parabolic potential well.     

First passage time problems in time-dependent fields

This paper discusses the simplest first passage time problems for random walks and diffusion processes on a line segment. When a diffusing particle moves in a time-varying field, use of the adjoint equation does not lead to any simplification in the calculation of moments of the first passage time as is the case for diffusion in a time-invariant field. We show that for a discrete random walk in the presence of a sinusoidally varying field there is a resonant frequency * for which the mean residence time on the line segment is a minimum. It is shown that for a random walk on a line segment of lengthL the mean residence time goes likeL ² for largeL when *, but when =* the dependence is proportional toL. The results of our simulation are numerical, but can be regarded as exact. Qualitatively similar results are shown to hold for diffusion processes by a perturbation expansion in powers of a dimensionless velocity. These results are extended to higher values of this parameter by a numerical solution of the forward equation.     

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.     

Lorentz lattice gases: Basic theory

We present several ballistic models of the Lorentz gas in two-dimensional lattices with deterministic and stochastic deflection rules, and their corresponding Liouville equations. Boltzmann-level-equation results are obtained for the diffusion coefficient and velocity autocorrelation function for models with stochastic deflection rules. The long-time behavior of the mean square displacement is briefly discussed and the possibility of abnormal diffusion indicated. Even if the diffusion coefficient exists, its low-density limit may not be given correctly by the Boltzmann equation.