Dynamics of Shock Probes in Driven Diffusive Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the behavior of shock-tracking probes in driven and equilibrium diffusive systems, revealing a crossover in dynamics and the influence of probes on system-wide density gradients.

Contribution

It introduces a scaling form for the crossover dynamics in driven systems and demonstrates how probes affect equilibrium density profiles.

Findings

Diverging timescale marks crossover from passive scalar to diffusive regime.

Scaling form characterizes the crossover dynamics.

Single probes induce system-wide density gradients.

Abstract

We study the dynamics of shock-tracking probe particles in driven diffusive systems and also in equilibrium systems. In a driven system, they induce a diverging timescale that marks the crossover between a passive scalar regime at early times and a diffusive regime at late times; a scaling form characterises this crossover. Introduction of probes into an equilibrium system gives rise to a system-wide density gradient, and the presence of even a single probe can be felt across the entire system.