arXiv subjects

David Mukamel

Publications and source records attributed to David Mukamel.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Zero-Range Processes with Multiple Condensates: Statics and Dynamics

The steady-state distributions and dynamical behaviour of Zero Range Processes with hopping rates which are non-monotonic functions of the site occupation are studied. We consider two classes of non-monotonic hopping rates. The first results in a condensed phase containing a large (but subextensive) number of mesocondensates each containing a subextensive number of particles. The second results in a condensed phase containing a finite number of extensive condensates. We study the scaling behaviour of the peak in the distribution function corresponding to the condensates in both cases. In studying the dynamics of the condensate we identify two timescales: one for creation, the other for evaporation of condensates at a given site. The scaling behaviour of these timescales is studied within the Arrhenius law approach and by numerical simulations.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Relaxation times of unstable states in systems with long range interactions

We consider several models with long-range interactions evolving via Hamiltonian dynamics. The microcanonical dynamics of the basic Hamiltonian Mean Field (HMF) model and perturbed HMF models with either global anisotropy or an on-site potential are studied both analytically and numerically. We find that in the magnetic phase, the initial zero magnetization state remains stable above a critical energy and is unstable below it. In the dynamically stable state, these models exhibit relaxation time scales that increase algebraically with the number $N$ of particles, indicating the robustness of the quasistationary state seen in previous studies. In the unstable state, the corresponding time scale increases logarithmically in $N$.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Phase space gaps and ergodicity breaking in systems with long range interactions

We study a generalized isotropic XY-model which includes both two-spin and four-spin mean-field interactions. This model can be solved in the microcanonical ensemble. It is shown that in certain parameter regions the model exhibits gaps in the magnetization at fixed energy, resulting in ergodicity breaking. This phenomenon has previously been reported in anisotropic and discrete spin models. The entropy of the model is calculated and the microcanonical phase diagram is derived, showing the existence of first order phase transitions from the ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic disordered phase. It is found that ergodicity breaking takes place both in the ferromagnetic and the paramagnetic phases. As a consequence, the system can exhibit a stable ferromagnetic phase within the paramagnetic region, and conversely a disordered phase within the magnetically ordered region.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2006

Long-Range Effects in Layered Spin Structures

We study theoretically layered spin systems where long-range dipolar interactions play a relevant role. By choosing a specific sample shape, we are able to reduce the complex Hamiltonian of the system to that of a much simpler coupled rotator model with short-range and mean-field interactions. This latter model has been studied in the past because of its interesting dynamical and statistical properties related to exotic features of long-range interactions. It is suggested that experiments could be conducted such that within a specific temperature range the presence of long-range interactions crucially affect the behavior of the system.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Dynamics and thermodynamics of rotators interacting with both long and short range couplings

The effect of nearest-neighbor coupling on the thermodynamic and dynamical properties of the ferromagnetic Hamiltonian Mean Field model (HMF) is studied. For a range of antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor coupling, a canonical first order transition is observed, and the canonical and microcanonical ensembles are non-equivalent. In studying the relaxation time of non-equilibrium states it is found that as in the HMF model, a class of non-magnetic states is quasi-stationary, with an algebraic divergence of their lifetime with the number of degrees of freedom $N$. The lifetime of metastable states is found to increase exponentially with $N$ as expected.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Ensemble Inequivalence in Mean-field Models of Magnetism

Mean-field models, while they can be cast into an {\it extensive} thermodynamic formalism, are inherently {\it non additive}. This is the basic feature which leads to {\it ensemble inequivalence} in these models. In this paper we study the global phase diagram of the infinite range Blume-Emery-Griffiths model both in the {\it canonical} and in the {\it microcanonical} ensembles. The microcanonical solution is obtained both by direct state counting and by the application of large deviation theory. The canonical phase diagram has first order and continuous transition lines separated by a tricritical point. We find that below the tricritical point, when the canonical transition is first order, the phase diagrams of the two ensembles disagree. In this region the microcanonical ensemble exhibits energy ranges with negative specific heat and temperature jumps at transition energies. These two features are discussed in a general context and the appropriate Maxwell constructions are introduced. Some preliminary extensions of these results to weakly decaying nonintegrable interactions are presented.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Inequivalence of ensembles in a system with long range interactions

We study the global phase diagram of the infinite range Blume-Emery-Griffiths model both in the canonical and in the microcanonical ensembles. The canonical phase diagram is known to exhibit first order and continuous transition lines separated by a tricritical point. We find that below the tricritical point, when the canonical transition is first order, the phase diagrams of the two ensembles disagree. In this region the microcanonical ensemble exhibits energy ranges with negative specific heat and temperature jumps at transition energies. These results can be extended to weakly decaying nonintegrable interactions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Why is the DNA Denaturation Transition First Order?

We study a model for the denaturation transition of DNA in which the molecules are considered as composed of a sequence of alternating bound segments and denaturated loops. We take into account the excluded-volume interactions between denaturated loops and the rest of the chain by exploiting recent results on scaling properties of polymer networks of arbitrary topology. The phase transition is found to be first order in d=2 dimensions and above, in agreement with experiments and at variance with previous theoretical results, in which only excluded-volume interactions within denaturated loops were taken into account. Our results agree with recent numerical simulations.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2000

Phase Transitions in Non-Equilibrium Systems

Phase transitions and critical behavior of driven systems are reviewed. Models exhibiting phase transitions, spontaneous symmetry breaking, phase separation and coarsening processes in d=1 dimension are discussed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

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 which 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 non-wet (pinned) states coexist and are both thermodynamically stable in a domain of the dynamical parameters which define the model. This is in contrast with equilibrium transitions where coexistence of thermodynamically stable states takes place only on the transition line.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Global Phase Diagram of a One-Dimensional Driven Lattice Gas

We investigate the non-equilibrium stationary state of a translationally invariant one-dimensional driven lattice gas with short-range interactions. The phase diagram is found to exhibit a line of continuous transitions from a disordered phase to a phase with spontaneous symmetry breaking. At the phase transition the correlation length is infinite and density correlations decay algebraically. Depending on the parameters which define the dynamics, the transition either belongs to the universality class of directed percolation or to a universality class of a growth model which preserves the local minimal height. Consequences of some mappings to other models, including a parity-conserving branching-annihilation process are briefly discussed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1997

Smooth Phases, Roughening Transitions and Novel Exponents in One-dimensional Growth Models

A class of solid-on-solid growth models with short range interactions and sequential updates is studied. The models exhibit both smooth and rough phases in dimension d=1. Some of the features of the roughening transition which takes place in these models are related to contact processes or directed percolation type problems. The models are analyzed using a mean field approximation, scaling arguments and numerical simulations. In the smooth phase the symmetry of the underlying dynamics is spontaneously broken. A family of order parameters which are not conserved by the dynamics is defined as well as conjugate fields which couple to these order parameters. The corresponding critical behavior is studied and novel exponents identified and measured. We also show how continuous symmetries can be broken in one dimension. A field theory appropriate for studying the roughening transition is introduced and discussed.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1997

A Model for Nonequilibrium Wetting Transitions in Two Dimensions

A simple two dimensional model of a phase growing on a substrate is introduced. The model is characterized by an adsorption rate q, and a desorption rate p. It exhibits a wetting transition which may be viewed as an unbinding transition of an interface from a wall. For p=1, the model may be mapped onto an exactly soluble equilibrium model exhibiting complete wetting with critical exponents gamma = 1/3 for the diverging interface width and x_0 = 1 for the zero-level occupation. For 0 < p != 1 a crossover to different exponents is observed which is related to a KPZ type nonlinearity.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1997

Gel-Electrophoresis and Diffusion of Ring-Shaped DNA

A model for the motion of ring-shaped DNA in a gel is introduced and studied by numerical simulations and a mean-field approximation. The ring motion is mediated by finger-shaped loops (hernias) that move in an amoeba-like fashion around the gel obstructions. This constitutes an extension of previous reptation tube treatments. It is shown that tension is essential for describing the dynamics in the presence of hernias. It is included in the model as long range interactions over stretched DNA regions. The mobility of ring-shaped DNA is found to saturate much as in the well-studied case of linear DNA. Experiments in polymer gels, however, show that the mobility drops exponentially with the DNA ring size. This is commonly attributed to dangling-ends in the gel that can impale the ring. The predictions of the present model are expected to apply to artificial 2D obstacle arrays (W.D. Volkmuth, R.H. Austin, Nature 358,600 (1992)) which have no dangling-ends. In the zero-field case an exact solution of the model steady-state is obtained, and quantities such as the average ring size are calculated. An approximate treatment of the ring dynamics is given, and the diffusion coefficient is derived. The model is also discussed in the context of spontaneous symmetry breaking in one dimension.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv1995

Roughening Transition in a One-Dimensional Growth Process

A class of nonequilibrium models with short-range interactions and sequential updates is presented. The models describe one dimensional growth processes which display a roughening transition between a smooth and a rough phase. This transition is accompanied by spontaneous symmetry breaking, which is described by an order parameter whose dynamics is non-conserving. Some aspects of models in this class are related to directed percolation in 1+1 dimensions, although unlike directed percolation the models have no absorbing states. Scaling relations are derived and compared with Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Scaling and Selection in Cellular Structures and Living Polymers

The dynamical behavior of two types of non-equilibrium systems is discussed: $(a)$ two-dimensional cellular structures, and $(b)$ living polymers. Simple models governing their evolution are introduced and steady state distributions (cell side in the case of cellular structures and length in the case of living polymers) are calculated. In both cases the models possess a one parameter family of steady state distributions. Selection mechanism by which a particular distribution is dynamically selected is discussed.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1994

Asymmetric exclusion model for mixed ionic condustors

The ionic conductivity of mixed alkali glasses exhibits a deep minimum as a function of the relative concentrations of the two alkali ions. To study this behaviour we consider a simple one-dimensional model for asymmetric diffusion of two kinds of particles. Different particles are assumed to repulse each other. We consider two versions of the model: with or without overtaking of particles. For the case of perfect repulsion we find exact expressions for the stationary current. The model with weaker repulsion is studied by means of numerical simulations. The stationary current as a function of the ratio of particle concentrations is found to exhibit a minimum, related to correlations existing in this system.

cond-mat↗