Sub-diffusion and localization in the one dimensional trap model

TL;DR

This paper investigates the sub-diffusive behavior and localization phenomena in a one-dimensional trap model, revealing non-equilibrium properties, aging effects, and multiple time scales through simulations and analytical methods.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of localization and aging in a one-dimensional trap model, highlighting deviations from partial equilibrium and characterizing multiple aging regimes.

Findings

Finite dynamical participation ratios different from equilibrium values

Presence of two distinct aging behaviors with different time scales

Analytical predictions for asymptotic behavior of correlation functions

Abstract

We study a one dimensional generalization of the exponential trap model using both numerical simulations and analytical approximations. We obtain the asymptotic shape of the average diffusion front in the sub-diffusive phase. Our central result concerns the localization properties. We find the dynamical participation ratios to be finite, but different from their equilibrium counterparts. Therefore, the idea of a partial equilibrium within the limited region of space explored by the walk is not exact, even for long times where each site is visited a very large number of times. We discuss the physical origin of this discrepancy, and characterize the full distribution of dynamical weights. We also study two different two-time correlation functions, which exhibit different aging properties: one is `sub-aging' whereas the other one shows `full aging'; therefore two diverging time scales appear in this model. We give intuitive arguments and simple analytical approximations that account for these differences, and obtain new predictions for the asymptotic (short time and long time) behaviour of the scaling functions. Finally, we discuss the issue of multiple time scalings in this model.