Local Behaviour of Airy Processes

The Airy processes describe limit fluctuations in a wide range of growth models, where each particular Airy process depends on the geometry of the initial profile. We show how the coupling method, developed in the last-passage percolation context, can be used to prove existence of a continuous version and local convergence to Brownian motion. By using similar arguments, we further extend these results to a two parameter limit fluctuation process (Airy sheet).

     

The Pearcey Process

The extended Airy kernel describes the space-time correlation functions for the Airy process, which is the limiting process for a polynuclear growth model. The Airy functions themselves are given by integrals in which the exponents have a cubic singularity, arising from the coalescence of two saddle points in an asymptotic analysis. Pearcey functions are given by integrals in which the exponents have a quartic singularity, arising from the coalescence of three saddle points. A corresponding Pearcey kernel appears in a random matrix model and a Brownian motion model for a fixed time. This paper derives an extended Pearcey kernel by scaling the Brownian motion model at several times, and a system of partial differential equations whose solution determines associated distribution functions. We expect there to be a limiting nonstationary process consisting of infinitely many paths, which we call the Pearcey process, whose space-time correlation functions are expressible in terms of this extended kernel.     

Scale Invariance of the PNG Droplet and the Airy Process

We establish that the static height fluctuations of a particular growth model, the PNG droplet, converges upon proper rescaling to a limit process, which we call the Airy process A(y). The Airy process is stationary, it has continuous sample paths, its single time (fixed y) distribution is the Tracy–Widom distribution of the largest eigenvalue of a GUE random matrix, and the Airy process has a slow decay of correlations as y ^–2. Roughly the Airy process describes the last line of Dyson's Brownian motion model for random matrices. Our construction uses a multi-layer version of the PNG model, which can be analyzed through fermionic techniques. Specializing our result to a fixed value of y, one reobtains the celebrated result of Baik, Deift, and Johansson on the length of the longest increasing subsequence of a random permutation.     

Airy Distribution Function: From the Area Under a Brownian Excursion to the Maximal Height of Fluctuating Interfaces

The Airy distribution function describes the probability distribution of the area under a Brownian excursion over a unit interval. Surprisingly, this function has appeared in a number of seemingly unrelated problems, mostly in computer science and graph theory. In this paper, we show that this distribution function also appears in a rather well studied physical system, namely the fluctuating interfaces. We present an exact solution for the distribution P(h_m,L) of the maximal height h_m (measured with respect to the average spatial height) in the steady state of a fluctuating interface in a one dimensional system of size L with both periodic and free boundary conditions. For the periodic case, we show that P(h_m,L)=L^−1/2f(h_m L^−1/2) for all L>0 where the function f(x) is the Airy distribution function. This result is valid for both the Edwards–Wilkinson (EW) and the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang interfaces. For the free boundary case, the same scaling holds P(h_m,L)=L^−1/2F(h_m L^−1/2), but the scaling function F(x) is different from that of the periodic case. We compute this scaling function explicitly for the EW interface and call it the F-Airy distribution function. Numerical simulations are in excellent agreement with our analytical results. Our results provide a rather rare exactly solvable case for the distribution of extremum of a set of strongly correlated random variables. Some of these results were announced in a recent Letter [S.N. Majumdar and A. Comtet, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92: 225501 (2004)].     

关于Airy光束衍射及自加速性质的研究

对Airy光束的特性做进一步探讨, 一方面对无限宽Airy光束的重心问题给出新的理论说明, 另一方面着重对有限宽情形下的Airy光束的奇特性质进行探讨. 文中采用反证法给出无衍射的讨论, 同时结合数值模拟给出高斯函数及矩形函数限定下的有限宽Airy光束的场分布, 并由此得到其重心位置的轨迹: 重心位置是不变的, 不可能整体自由加速. 最终得到有限宽Airy光束既不可能在自由空间加速, 也不可能是无衍射光束. 关键词： Airy光束 无衍射 自加速 数值模拟     

Franz–Keldysh oscillations at the miniband edge in a GaAs/AlxGa1 −xAs superlattice

We have systematically measured the electroreflectance spectra of a GaAs (7.0 nm)/Al_0.1Ga_0.9As (3.5 nm) superlattice at various electric fields to investigate Franz–Keldysh (FK) oscillations. In the low-field regime, we clearly observe the FK oscillations toward the low-energy side of theM₁critical point (mini-Brillouin-zone edge). As the electric field is increased, the direction of the FK oscillations is reversed, then the oscillations disappear. The change of the oscillation direction correlates with the transformation of the electronic structures from the miniband to the Stark-ladder states in the Wannier-Stark localization. We discuss these experimental results on the basis of a theory of the FK oscillations and envelope-function forms calculated by a transfer matrix method with Airy functions.     

Differential Equations for Dyson Processes

We call a Dyson process any process on ensembles of matrices in which the entries undergo diffusion. We are interested in the distribution of the eigenvalues (or singular values) of such matrices. In the original Dyson process it was the ensemble of n×n Hermitian matrices, and the eigenvalues describe n curves. Given sets X₁,...,X_m the probability that for each k no curve passes through X_k at time _k is given by the Fredholm determinant of a certain matrix kernel, the extended Hermite kernel. For this reason we call this Dyson process the Hermite process. Similarly, when the entries of a complex matrix undergo diffusion we call the evolution of its singular values the Laguerre process, for which there is a corresponding extended Laguerre kernel. Scaling the Hermite process at the edge leads to the Airy process (which was introduced by Prähofer and Spohn as the limiting stationary process for a polynuclear growth model) and in the bulk to the sine process; scaling the Laguerre process at the edge leads to the Bessel process.In earlier work the authors found a system of ordinary differential equations with independent variable whose solution determined the probabilitieswhere A() denotes the top curve of the Airy process. Our first result is a generalization and strengthening of this. We assume that each X_k is a finite union of intervals and find a system of partial differential equations, with the end-points of the intervals of the X_k as independent variables, whose solution determines the probability that for each k no curve passes through X_k at time _k. Then we find the analogous systems for the Hermite process (which is more complicated) and also for the sine process. Finally we find an analogous system of PDEs for the Bessel process, which is the most difficult.Dedicated to Freeman Dyson on the occasion of his eightieth birthdayAcknowledgement We thank Kurt Johansson for sending us his unpublished notes on the extended Hermite kernel. This work was supported by National Science Foundation under grants DMS-0304414 (first author) and DMS-0243982 (second author).     

Zeros of Airy Function and Relaxation Process

One-dimensional system of Brownian motions called Dyson’s model is the particle system with long-range repulsive forces acting between any pair of particles, where the strength of force is β/2 times the inverse of particle distance. When β=2, it is realized as the Brownian motions in one dimension conditioned never to collide with each other. For any initial configuration, it is proved that Dyson’s model with β=2 and N particles, $\mbox {\boldmath $\mbox {\boldmath , is determinantal in the sense that any multitime correlation function is given by a determinant with a continuous kernel. The Airy function (z){\rm Ai}(z) is an entire function with zeros all located on the negative part of the real axis ℝ. We consider Dyson’s model with β=2 starting from the first N zeros of Ai(z){\rm Ai}(z) , 0>a ₁>⋅⋅⋅>a _N , N≥2. In order to properly control the effect of such initial confinement of particles in the negative region of ℝ, we put the drift term to each Brownian motion, which increases in time as a parabolic function: Y _j (t)=X _j (t)+t ²/4+{d ₁+∑ _ℓ=1 ^N (1/a _ℓ )}t,1≤j≤N, where d₁=Ai￠(0)/Ai(0)d_{1}={\rm Ai}'(0)/{\rm Ai}(0) . We show that, as the N→∞ limit of $\mbox {\boldmath $\mbox {\boldmath , we obtain an infinite particle system, which is the relaxation process from the configuration, in which every zero of (z){\rm Ai}(z) on the negative ℝ is occupied by one particle, to the stationary state m_Ai\mu_{{\rm Ai}} . The stationary state m_Ai\mu_{{\rm Ai}} is the determinantal point process with the Airy kernel, which is spatially inhomogeneous on ℝ and in which the Tracy-Widom distribution describes the rightmost particle position.     

Electron spin resonance of photolytically reduced pyrazine

A mapping between the exactly soluble forced oscillator and the general vibrationally inelastic scattering problem is shown to yield a new uniform approximation based on generalized Laguerre polynomials. Computations are reported for collinear He-H₂ collisions in which H₂ is represented by harmonic and Morse oscillators. The results show that the Laguerre approximation avoids the known failings of the existing Airy and Bessel uniform approximations.     

Gaussian modulated Ai- and Bi-based solutions of the 2D PWE: a comparison

We present a comparison of the evolution features, in terms of the intensity moments up to the second order, of what are here referred to as Ai-Gauss and Bi-Gauss wave functions, which originate from source functions consisting of Gaussian-like modulated Airy patterns (of the first and second kind). Both have already been considered in the literature, the former being in particular analysed in detail. A paraxial-optics oriented view of the cos-like Airy–Hardy integrals, which stand out as a generalization of the well-known Airy integral, is also developed.     

A Theoretical Description of the Photodissociation Spectrum of the H2O...HCl Complex

The effect of association of the water molecule and hydrogen chloride on the UV absorption bands is studied. Complete ab initio calculations for the H₂O...HCl complex in the S ₁ and S ₂ states are performed. A mathematical model using Airy functions is developed to describe the absorption cross-sections in a continuous spectrum. The form of the potential is determined by accurate ab initio calculations. The cross-sections of potential surfaces of lower electron states are found from ab initio calculations using the Hartree–Fock, configurational interaction, and multi-configurational interaction techniques. A complete vibrational analysis and an analysis of the change in the electron density for the S ₀ S ₁ transition on moving along the reaction coordinate allow a conclusion to be made on the feasibility of applying the model proposed to the H₂O...HCl complex. The results obtained in the framework of the model using Airy functions show reasonably good agreement with the experiment. For the H₂O...HCl heterodimer, the absorption band has the same structureless form as for the water monomer. The absorption band (peaking at 161 nm) is seen to shift towards short wavelengths as compared with the water monomer H₂O ( 167 nm).     

Fredholm Determinants and Pole-free Solutions to the Noncommutative Painlevé II Equation

We extend the formalism of integrable operators à la Its-Izergin-Korepin-Slavnov to matrix-valued convolution operators on a semi–infinite interval and to matrix integral operators with a kernel of the form \fracE₁^T(l) E₂(m)l+m{\frac{E_1^T(\lambda) E_2(\mu)}{\lambda+\mu}}, thus proving that their resolvent operators can be expressed in terms of solutions of some specific Riemann-Hilbert problems. We also describe some applications, mainly to a noncommutative version of Painlevé II (recently introduced by Retakh and Rubtsov) and a related noncommutative equation of Painlevé type. We construct a particular family of solutions of the noncommutative Painlevé II that are pole-free (for real values of the variables) and hence analogous to the Hastings-McLeod solution of (commutative) Painlevé II. Such a solution plays the same role as its commutative counterpart relative to the Tracy–Widom theorem, but for the computation of the Fredholm determinant of a matrix version of the Airy kernel.     

From Random Matrices to Stochastic Operators

We propose that classical random matrix models are properly viewed as finite difference schemes for stochastic differential operators. Three particular stochastic operators commonly arise, each associated with a familiar class of local eigenvalue behavior. The stochastic Airy operator displays soft edge behavior, associated with the Airy kernel. The stochastic Bessel operator displays hard edge behavior, associated with the Bessel kernel. The article concludes with suggestions for a stochastic sine operator, which would display bulk behavior, associated with the sine kernel.     

On Asymptotics for the Airy Process

The Airy process t→A(t), introduced by Prähofer and Spohn, is the limiting stationary process for a polynuclear growth model. Adler and van Moerbeke found a PDE in the variables s ₁,s ₂, and t for the probability Pr(A(0)≤s ₁, A(t)≤s ₂). Using this they were able, assuming the truth of a certain conjecture and appropriate uniformity, to obtain the first few terms of an asymptotic expansion for this probability as t→∞, with fixed s ₁ and s ₂. We shall show that the expansion can be obtained by using the Fredholm determinant representation for the probability. The main ingredients are formulas obtained by the author and C. A. Tracy in the derivation of the Painlevé II representation for the distribution function F ₂ plus a few others obtained in the same way.     

Random Skew Plane Partitions and the Pearcey Process

We study random skew 3D partitions weighted by q ^vol and, specifically, the q → 1 asymptotics of local correlations near various points of the limit shape. We obtain sine-kernel asymptotics for correlations in the bulk of the disordered region, Airy kernel asymptotics near a general point of the frozen boundary, and a Pearcey kernel asymptotics near a cusp of the frozen boundary.     

Entropy for Zero-Temperature Limits of Gibbs-Equilibrium States for Countable-Alphabet Subshifts of Finite Type

Let Σ _A be a finitely primitive subshift of finite type over a countable alphabet. For suitable potentials f : Σ _A → ℝ we can associate an invariant Gibbs equilibrium state μ _tf to the potential tf for each t ≥ 1. In this note, we show that the entropy h(μ _tf ) converges in the limit t→ ∞ to the maximum entropy of those invariant measures which maximize ∫ f dμ. We further show that every weak-* accumulation point of the family of measures μ _tf has entropy equal to this value. This answers a pair of questions posed by O. Jenkinson, R. D. Mauldin and M. Urbański.     

Global Entanglement Measures and Quantum Phase Transitions in the 1D J 1? J 2 Model

We have analyzed the behavior of multipartite global entanglement and average bipartite concurrence for the sign of quantum phase transitions in the frustrated J ₁−J ₂ model by using exact diagonalization technique for a chain of 12 qubits. It is found that although the magnitude of two classes of the measures show opposite trends the absolute value of their derivatives show similar structure near critical points.     

Universality Limits of a Reproducing Kernel for a Half-Line Schrödinger Operator and Clock Behavior of Eigenvalues

We extend some recent results of Lubinsky, Levin, Simon, and Totik from measures with compact support to spectral measures of Schrödinger operators on the half-line. In particular, we define a reproducing kernel S _L for Schrödinger operators and we use it to study the fine spacing of eigenvalues in a box of the half-line Schrödinger operator with perturbed periodic potential. We show that if solutions u(ξ, x) are bounded in x by ${e^{\epsilon x}}We extend some recent results of Lubinsky, Levin, Simon, and Totik from measures with compact support to spectral measures of Schr?dinger operators on the half-line. In particular, we define a reproducing kernel S _L for Schr?dinger operators and we use it to study the fine spacing of eigenvalues in a box of the half-line Schr?dinger operator with perturbed periodic potential. We show that if solutions u(ξ, x) are bounded in x by e^ex{e^{\epsilon x}} uniformly for ξ near the spectrum in an average sense and the spectral measure is positive and absolutely continuous in a bounded interval I in the interior of the spectrum with x₀ ? I{\xi_0\in I}, then uniformly in I,

\fracSL(x0 + a/L, x0 + b/L)SL(x0, x0)? \fracsin(pr(x0)(a - b))pr(x0)(a - b),\frac{S_L(\xi_0 + a/L, \xi_0 + b/L)}{S_L(\xi_0, \xi_0)}\rightarrow \frac{\sin(\pi\rho(\xi_0)(a - b))}{\pi\rho(\xi_0)(a - b)},      20. Resonant tunneling in electrically biased multibarrier systems      P.K. Mahapatra  S.P. Bhattacharya 《Physica B: Condensed Matter》2008,403(17):2780-2788 The effect of a uniform electric field on the resonant tunneling across multibarrier systems (GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs and GaN/AlxGa1−xN) is exhaustively explored by a computational model using exact Airy function formalism and the transfer-matrix technique. The numerical computation takes care of the common problems of numerical inefficiency and overflow associated with the Airy functions for low-applied voltages. The model presents the study of both the field-free and field-dependent tunneling across multibarrier systems using a single formalism. The current-voltage characteristics, studied for the multibarrier systems with different number of barriers, exhibit all the experimentally observed features like resonant peaks, negative differential conductivity regimes, etc. Our results have both qualitative and quantitative agreement with the reported experimental findings.

Resonant tunneling in electrically biased multibarrier systems

The effect of a uniform electric field on the resonant tunneling across multibarrier systems (GaAs/Al_xGa_1−xAs and GaN/Al_xGa_1−xN) is exhaustively explored by a computational model using exact Airy function formalism and the transfer-matrix technique. The numerical computation takes care of the common problems of numerical inefficiency and overflow associated with the Airy functions for low-applied voltages. The model presents the study of both the field-free and field-dependent tunneling across multibarrier systems using a single formalism. The current-voltage characteristics, studied for the multibarrier systems with different number of barriers, exhibit all the experimentally observed features like resonant peaks, negative differential conductivity regimes, etc. Our results have both qualitative and quantitative agreement with the reported experimental findings.