Diffusion Dynamics of Classical Systems Driven by an Oscillatory Force

We investigate the asymptotic behavior of solutions to a kinetic equation describing the evolution of particles subject to the sum of a fixed, confining, Hamiltonian, and a small time-oscillating perturbation. Additionally, the equation involves an interaction operator which projects the distribution function onto functions of the fixed Hamiltonian. The paper aims at providing a classical counterpart to the derivation of rate equations from the atomic Bloch equations. Here, the homogenization procedure leads to a diffusion equation in the energy variable. The presence of the interaction operator regularizes the limit process and leads to finite diffusion coefficients. AMS Subject classification: 74Q10, 35Q99, 35B25, 82C70     

On the quantization of dissipative systems

A recent paper of Dekker on the quantization of dissipative systems is examined in some detail. It is argued that one can construct a large number of classical equivalent Hamiltonians for damped systems. These can be formally quantized according to Dirac's method, and the resulting equations are mathematically consistent, but yield different eigenfunctions for the same classical system. However, this procedure should be rejected on physical grounds. That is in quantum mechanics, unlike classical dynamics, the definition of the time derivative of a dynamical variable is unique, and is given by the commutator of the proper Hamiltonian (or the energy operator) and that variable. If the proper Hamiltonian is used for the quantization of a damped system, then the quantal equations are inconsistent for the cases where the rate of energy dissipation depends on the velocity of the particle. As an alternative approach to the quantal theory of dissipative phenomena, a generalization of the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism is considered, where the equation for the principle functionS, depends not only on the space and time derivatives ofS, but onS itself. This leads to a new class of damped systems in classical mechanics. The original Schrödinger method of quantization via the Hamilton-Jacobi equation has been applied to this class of dissipative systems, with the result that the wave equation in this case is a solution of a non-linear Schrödinger-Langevin equation. This formulation has no analogue in the Hamiltonian approach, since in the latter, the resulting wave equation is always linear.Supported in part by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada.     

Spatial disorder in a smectic A mesophase

Starting with the equations of motion for a stiff chain, a projection operator approach is utilized to develop diffusional equations for the dynamics of the end-to-end distance. The diffusion equation resulting has a spatial-dependent diffusion coefficient calculable from equilibrium properties of the chain, and a frequency-dependent part which requires dynamical information. The analysis is applied, in so far as the spatial dependence of D is determined, for three and four bond chains. A critique of this procedure is provided.     

Mass transport theory for the Toda lattices, dispersive and dissipative

To establish mass transport theory on nonlinear lattices, we formulate the Korteweg–deVries (KdV) equation and the Burgers equation using the flow variable representation so as to facilitate comparison with the Boltzmann equation and with the Cahn–Hilliard equation in classical statistical mechanics. We also study Toda lattice microdynamics using the Flaschka representation, and compare with the Liouville equation. Like the linear diffusion equation, the Boltzmann equation and the Liouville equation are to be solved for a distribution function, which is intrinsically probabilistic. Transport theory in linear systems is governed by the isotropic motions of the kinetic equations. In contrast, the KdV perturbation equation derived from the Toda lattice microdynamics expresses hydrodynamic mass transport. The KdV equation in hydrodynamics and the Burgers equation in thermodynamics do not involve a probability distribution function. The nonlinear lattices do not retain isotropy of the mass transport equations. In consequence, it is proposed that in the presence of hydrodynamic flows to the left, KdV wave propagation proceeds to the right. This basic property of the KdV system is extended to thermodynamics in the Burgers system. These features arise because linear systems are driven towards an equilibrium by molecular collisions, whereas the inhomogeneities of the nonlinear lattices are generated by the potential energy of interaction. Diffusion as expressed by the Burgers equation is governed not only by a chemical potential, but also by the Toda lattice potential energy.     

Global Existence of Classical Solutions to the Vlasov-Poisson-Boltzmann System

The time evolution of the distribution function for the charged particles in a dilute gas is governed by the Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann system when the force is self-induced and its potential function satisfies the Poisson equation. In this paper, we give a satisfactory global existence theory of classical solutions to this system when the initial data is a small perturbation of a global Maxwellian. Moreover, the convergence rate in time to the global Maxwellian is also obtained through the energy method. The proof is based on the theory of compressible Navier–Stokes equations with forcing and the decomposition of the solutions to the Boltzmann equation with respect to the local Maxwellian introduced in [23] and elaborated in [31].     

Semiclassical approximation for the twodimensional Fisher–Kolmogorov–Petrovskii– Piskunov equation with nonlocal nonlinearity in polar coordinates

The two-dimensional Kolmogorov–Petrovskii–Piskunov–Fisher equation with nonlocal nonlinearity and axially symmetric coefficients in polar coordinates is considered. The method of separation of variables in polar coordinates and the nonlinear superposition principle proposed by the authors are used to construct the asymptotic solution of a Cauchy problem in a special class of smooth functions. The functions of this class arbitrarily depend on the angular variable and are semiclassically concentrated in the radial variable. The angular dependence of the function has been exactly taken into account in the solution. For the radial equation, the formalism of semiclassical asymptotics has been developed for the class of functions which singularly depend on an asymptotic small parameter, whose part is played by the diffusion coefficient. A dynamic system of Einstein–Ehrenfest equations (a system of equations in mean and central moments) has been derived. The evolution operator for the class of functions under consideration has been constructed in explicit form.     

NQR Spin Diffusion in an Inhomogeneous Internal Field

The theory of NQR spin diffusion is extended to the case of spin lattice relaxation and spin diffusion in an inhomogeneous field. Two coupled equations describing the mutual relaxation and the spin diffusion of the nuclear magnetization and dipolar energy were obtained by using the method of nonequilibrium state operator. The equations were solved for short and long times approximation corresponding to the direct and diffusion relaxation regimes.     

Generating Functionals in Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics

The main ideas and methods of calculations within the framework of the generating functional technique are considered in a systematical way. The nonequilibrium generating functionals are defined as functional mappings of the nonequilibrium statistical operator and so appear to be dependent on a certain set of macroscopic variables describing the nonequilibrium state of the system. The boundary conditions and the differential equation of motion for the generating functionals are considered which result in an explicit expression for the nonequilibrium generating functionals in terms of the so-called coarse-grained generating functional being the functional mapping of the quasiequilibrium statistical operator. Various types of integral equations are derived for the generating functionals which are convenient to develop the perturbation theories with respect to either small interaction or small density of particles. The master equation for the coarse-grained generating functionals is obtained and its connection with the generalized kinetic equations for a set of macrovariables is shown. The derivation of the generalized kinetic equations for some physical systems (classical and quantum systems of interacting particles, the Kondo system) is treated in detail, with due regard for the polarization effects as well as the energy and momentum exchange between the colliding particles and the surrounding media.     

Non-linear reciprocity in extended thermodynamics from the Robertson formalism

Robertson has found a projection operator which, applied to the Liouville equation, yields an exact equation for , the information-theoretic phase-space distribution. If the Robertson equation is multiplied by a set [0pt]{} of functions representing physical fluxes, odd under momentum reversal and even under configuration inversion, a set of evolution equations is obtained for time-dependent ensemble averages which are variables of extended thermodynamics. In earlier work, a perturbation calculation was developed, assuming just one variable , for an operator [0pt] occurring in the Robertson equation. This calculation is extended here to the case where there are variables. The coefficients in the evolution equations depend on {} and explicitly on time t at short times. It is shown here that these coefficients exhibit Onsager symmetry at long times, after the transient explicit t-dependence has disappeared, to . Received 13 September 1999 and Received in final form 4 April 2000     

The variant of post-Newtonian mechanics with generalized fractional derivatives

In this article, we investigate mathematically the variant of post-Newtonian mechanics using generalized fractional derivatives. The relativistic-covariant generalization of the classical equations for gravitational field is studied. The equations (i) match the weak Newtonian limit on the moderate scales and (ii) deliver a potential higher than Newtonian on certain large-distance characteristic scales. The perturbation of the gravitational field results in the tiny secular perihelion shift and exhibits some unusual effects on large scales. The general representation of the solution for the fractional wave equation is given in the form of retarded potentials. The solutions for the Riesz wave equation and classical wave equation are clearly distinctive in an important sense. The hypothetical gravitational Riesz wave demonstrates the space diffusion of the wave at the scales of metric constant. The diffusion leads to the blur of the peak and disruption of the sharp wave front. This contrasts with the solution of the D'Alembert classical wave equation, which obeys the Huygens principle and does not diffuse.     

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.     

Separation of angular and energy relaxations of nonequilibrium electrons in a solid

We demonstrate that the collision integral of the kinetic equation for the interaction of hot electrons with phonons can be split into substantially different parts that correspond to elastic and inelastic collisions. In particular, this applies to electrons with energies of about 1 eV that propagate in semiconductors. The difference in the characteristic energy and momentum relaxation times makes it possible to separate the angular and energy relaxation processes. If the differential cross section of elastic scattering depends, not on the scattering angle, but on the directions of incident and scattered electrons (which is observed, e.g., for the interaction of an electron with piezoelectric lattice vibrations in A^IIIB^V compounds), the Laplacian in the equation that describes the spatial and energy distributions of electrons can be replaced by an elliptical operator; i.e., the electron diffusion turns out to be anisotropic.     

Signs of life

Programmable electronic calculators provide a speedy means of performing scientific calculations, e.g. the evaluation of a given polynomial for many different x values and the performance of iterative procedures for the solution of polynomial equations. Both of these uses appear in variational calculations of the energy of simple quantum mechanical systems such as the perturbed harmonic oscillator. For this system the traditional perturbation method has some drawbacks, end so it is useful to find its energy levels directly by purely numerical methods. The electronic calculator can do this if the relevant Schrödinger differential equation is transformed into a difference equation. The diffusion equation is a partial differential equation, but can be converted to an ordinary differential equation and thence to a pair of difference equations which can be solved on the calculator. This applies even if the diffusion coefficient depends on the concentration, so that the associated ordinary differential equation is non-linear.     

Superradiance and energy transfer within a system of atoms

We investigate cooperative effects in energy relaxation and energy transfer for N atoms in a thermal radiation field with superradiance master equations as well as a closed set of coupled moment equations. Both spatially large and spatially small systems are considered. For small systems nonlinear rate equations for the energy are related to the moment equations. Symmetry of the small system to interchanging atoms is used to incorporate off-diagonal solutions of the superradiance master equation in expressions for the probability of the transfer of energy from one group of atoms to another. The long time excitation probability for initially unexcited atoms is large and strongly correlated. Cooperative processes in a large system which fall off with the distance between a cooperating pair of atoms include energy loss and transfer terms in the master equation. The energy transfer is oscillatory in time. Energy relaxation is shown by numerical solution to become cooperative in a very sudden manner as the scale of the atomic system is decreased through the resonant wavelength.     

Diffusion coefficient for a Brownian particle in a periodic field of force: I. Large friction limit

The diffusion tensor for a Brownian particle in a periodic field of force is studied in the strong damping limit, in which the Smoluchowski equation is valid.A general relation between the diffusion tensor and the Smoluchowski “relaxation operator” is derived; the effect of the periodic force, at least in the simplest situation of diagonal and uniform friction, appears as a dressing of the bare particle mass to an effective tensor mass.From this the explicit form of the diffusion coefficient as a functional of the potential energy in the one-dimensional case is obtained, showing a temperature dependence which deviates at high temperatures from a simple Arrhenius behaviour.Finally, the expression for the mobility of the Brownian particle is derived, and by comparison with the expression for the diffusion coefficient the Einstein relation between diffusion and mobility is proved to be satisfied.     

Quantum theory of impurity migration in crystals

A quantum theory of impurity migration in crystals is proposed. The impurity state is taken in the form of a wave packet constructed out of its Bloch states in the host lattice. Its time evolution is studied including its interaction with the host lattice phonons. A correspondence is established between the classical diffusion equation and the time evolution of the probability density arising out of the impurity wave packet. The diffusion coefficient D_T and trapping rate γ_T are related to the imaginary part of the energy shift of the impurity caused by its interaction with phonons. The detailed calculations are carried out using second order perturbation theory for the energy shift. The Debye model for the host lattice and effective mass approximation for the impurity band are used. At low temperature D_T is found to be proportional to_T3/2, and at high temperature the Arrhenius formula of Vineyard is obtained. The estimated migration energy for μ⁺ migration in bcc metals agrees reasonably with the experimental values.     

Perturbed Lie Symmetry and Systems of Non-Linear Diffusion Equations

Abstract

The method of one parameter, point symmetric, approximate Lie group invariants is applied to the problem of determining solutions of systems of pure one-dimensional, diffusion equations. The equations are taken to be non-linear in the dependent variables but otherwise homogeneous. Moreover, the matrix of diffusion coefficients is taken to differ from a constant matrix by a linear perturbation with respect to an infinitesimal parameter. The conditions for approximate Lie invariance are developed and are applied to the coupled system. The corresponding prolongation operator is derived and it is shown that this places a power law and logarithmic constraints on the nature of the perturbed diffusion matrix. The method is used to derive an approximate solution of the perturbed diffusion equation corresponding to impulsive boundary conditions.     

Isothermal resistivity for interacting charged particles in contact with a bath

To calculate the stationary resistivity, the role of the coupling to a bath is pointed out. In the case of two kinds of interacting charged particles, the coupling to a bath is taken into account by relaxation terms in the equation of motion of the density operator so that the correct balance equations for the impuls transfer are obtained. Higher orders of a perturbation expansion of the resistivity with respect to the coupling constant are given. For special cases the Matthiesen rule is derived, and deviations from the Matthiesen rule are discussed.