One way to grow, many ways to shrink: the reversible Von Neumann expanding model

TL;DR

This paper explores the solution space of the reversible Von Neumann expanding model, revealing non-convexity in contracting phases and uniqueness in optimal expansion, using statistical mechanics and replica theory.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the reversible model's solution space, highlighting the non-convexity in contraction and the uniqueness in expansion phases, with a novel theoretical approach.

Findings

Non-convex solution space in contracting phases.

Unique optimal reaction flux evolution during expansion.

Transition characterized by a fraction of unused reversible reactions.

Abstract

We study the solutions of Von Neumann's expanding model with reversible processes for an infinite reaction network. We show that, contrary to the irreversible case, the solution space need not be convex in contracting phases (i.e. phases where the concentrations of reagents necessarily decrease over time). At optimality, this implies that, while multiple dynamical paths of global contraction exist, optimal expansion is achieved by a unique time evolution of reaction fluxes. This scenario is investigated in a statistical mechanics framework by a replica symmetric theory. The transition from a non-convex to a convex solution space, which turns out to be well described by a phenomenological order parameter (the fraction of unused reversible reactions) is analyzed numerically.