Non-equilibrium critical properties of the Ising model on product graphs

We study numerically the non-equilibrium critical properties of the Ising model defined on direct products of graphs, obtained from factor graphs without phase transition (Tc = 0). On this class of product graphs, the Ising model features a finite temperature phase transition, and we find a pattern of scaling behaviors analogous to the one known on regular lattices: Observables take a scaling form in terms of a function L(t) of time, with the meaning of a growing length inside which a coherent fractal structure, the critical state, is progressively formed. Computing universal quantities, such as the critical exponents and the limiting fluctuation-dissipation ratio X_infty, allows us to comment on the possibility to extend universality concepts to the critical behavior on inhomogeneous substrates.

Local and average behavior in inhomogeneous superdiffusive media

We consider a random walk on one-dimensional inhomogeneous graphs built from Cantor fractals. Our study is motivated by recent experiments that demonstrated superdiffusion of light in complex disordered materials, thereby termed Levy glasses. We introduce a geometric parameter $alpha$ which plays a role analogous to the exponent characterizing the step length distribution in random systems. We study the large-time behavior of both local and average observables; for the latter case, we distinguish two different types of averages, respectively over the set of all initial sites and over the scattering sites only. The single long jump approximation is applied to analytically determine the different asymptotic behaviours as a function of $alpha$ and to understand their origin. We also discuss the possibility that the root of the mean square displacement and the characteristic length of the walker distribution may grow according to different power laws; this anomalous behaviour is typical of processes characterized by Levy statistics and here, in particular, it is shown to influence average quantities.

Levy walks and scaling in quenched disordered media

We study Levy walks in quenched disordered one-dimensional media, with scatterers spaced according to a long-tailed distribution. By analyzing the scaling relations for the random-walk probability and for the resistivity in the equivalent electric problem, we obtain the asymptotic behavior of the mean square displacement as a function of the exponent characterizing the scatterers distribution. We demonstrate that in quenched media different average procedures can display different asymptotic behavior. In particular, we estimate the moments of the displacement averaged over processes starting from scattering sites, in analogy with recent experiments. Our results are compared with numerical simulations, with excellent agreement.

Quantum signatures of self-trapping transition in attractive lattice bosons

We consider the Bose-Hubbard model describing attractive bosonic particles hopping across the sites of a translation-invariant lattice, and compare the relevant ground-state properties with those of the corresponding symmetry-breaking semiclassical nonlinear theory. The introduction of a suitable measure allows us to highlight many correspondences between the nonlinear theory and the inherently linear quantum theory, characterized by the well-known self-trapping phenomenon. In particular we demonstrate that the localization properties and bifurcation pattern of the semiclassical ground-state can be clearly recognized at the quantum level. Our analysis highlights a finite-number effect.

Phase ordering and universality for continuous symmetry models on graphs

We study the phase-ordering kinetics following a temperature quench of O(N) continuous symmetry models with and 4 on graphs. By means of extensive simulations, we show that the global pattern of scaling behaviours is analogous to the one found on usual lattices. The exponent a for the integrated response function and the exponent z, describing the growing length, are related to the large scale topology of the networks through the spectral dimension and the fractal dimension alone, by means of the same expressions as are provided by the analytic solution of the inifnite N limit. This suggests that the large N value of these exponents could be exact for every N.

Interacting Random Walkers and Non-Equilibrium Fluctuations

We introduce a model of interacting Random Walk, whose hopping amplitude depends on the number of walkers/particles on the link. The mesoscopic counterpart of such a microscopic dynamics is a diffusing system whose diffusivity depends on the particle density. A non-equilibrium stationary flux can be induced by suitable boundary conditions, and we show indeed that it is mesoscopically described by a Fourier equation with a density dependent diffusivity. A simple mean-field description predicts a critical diffusivity if the hopping amplitude vanishes for a certain walker density. Actually, we evidence that, even if the density equals this pseudo-critical value, the system does not present any criticality but only a dynamical slowing down. This property is confirmed by the fact that, in spite of interaction, the particle distribution at equilibrium is simply described in terms of a product of Poissonians. For mesoscopic systems with a stationary flux, a very effect of interaction among particles consists in the amplification of fluctuations, which is especially relevant close to the pseudo-critical density. This agrees with analogous results obtained for Ising models, clarifying that larger fluctuations are induced by the dynamical slowing down and not by a genuine criticality. The consistency of this amplification effect with altered coloured noise in time series is also proved.

Configurations and Observables in an Ising Model with Heat Flow

We study a two dimensional Ising model between thermostats at different temperatures. By applying the recently introduced KQ dynamics, we show that the system reaches a steady state with coexisting phases transversal to the heat flow. The relevance of such complex states on thermodynamic or geometrical observables is investigated. In particular, we study energy, magnetization and metric properties of interfaces and clusters which, in principle, are sensitive to local features of configurations. With respect to equilibrium states, the presence of the heat flow amplifies the fluctuations of both thermodynamic and geometrical observables in a domain around the critical energy. The dependence of this phenomenon on various parameters (size, thermal gradient, interaction) is discussed also with reference to other possible diffusive models.