Front propagation in random media: From extremal to activated dynamics

TL;DR

This paper investigates front propagation in random media near the depinning threshold, revealing universal force distribution behavior and deriving a temperature-dependent Arrhenius law for front velocity, supported by numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a universal force distribution near depinning and derives a temperature-dependent velocity law for the first time.

Findings

Depinning force distribution is universal at zero temperature.

Front velocity follows an Arrhenius law at low temperatures.

Numerical simulations support theoretical predictions.

Abstract

Front propagation in a random environment is studied close to the depinning threshold. At zero temperature we show that the depinning force distribution exhibits a universal behavior. This property is used to estimate the velocity of the front at very low temperature. We obtain a Arrhenius behavior with a prefactor depending on the temperature as a power law. These results are supported by numerical simulations.