@article{MutothyaXuLietal.2021, author = {Mutothya, Nicholas Mwilu and Xu, Yong and Li, Yongge and Metzler, Ralf and Mutua, Nicholas Muthama}, title = {First passage dynamics of stochastic motion in heterogeneous media driven by correlated white Gaussian and coloured non-Gaussian noises}, series = {Journal of physics. Complexity}, volume = {2}, journal = {Journal of physics. Complexity}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {2632-072X}, doi = {10.1088/2632-072X/ac35b5}, pages = {24}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We study the first passage dynamics for a diffusing particle experiencing a spatially varying diffusion coefficient while driven by correlated additive Gaussian white noise and multiplicative coloured non-Gaussian noise. We consider three functional forms for position dependence of the diffusion coefficient: power-law, exponential, and logarithmic. The coloured non-Gaussian noise is distributed according to Tsallis' q-distribution. Tracks of the non-Markovian systems are numerically simulated by using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm and the first passage times (FPTs) are recorded. The FPT density is determined along with the mean FPT (MFPT). Effects of the noise intensity and self-correlation of the multiplicative noise, the intensity of the additive noise, the cross-correlation strength, and the non-extensivity parameter on the MFPT are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{GrebenkovMetzlerOshanin2021, author = {Grebenkov, Denis S. and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb}, title = {A molecular relay race: sequential first-passage events to the terminal reaction centre in a cascade of diffusion controlled processes}, series = {New Journal of Physics (NJP)}, volume = {23}, journal = {New Journal of Physics (NJP)}, publisher = {IOP - Institute of Physics Publishing}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ac1e42}, pages = {18}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We consider a sequential cascade of molecular first-reaction events towards a terminal reaction centre in which each reaction step is controlled by diffusive motion of the particles. The model studied here represents a typical reaction setting encountered in diverse molecular biology systems, in which, e.g. a signal transduction proceeds via a series of consecutive 'messengers': the first messenger has to find its respective immobile target site triggering a launch of the second messenger, the second messenger seeks its own target site and provokes a launch of the third messenger and so on, resembling a relay race in human competitions. For such a molecular relay race taking place in infinite one-, two- and three-dimensional systems, we find exact expressions for the probability density function of the time instant of the terminal reaction event, conditioned on preceding successful reaction events on an ordered array of target sites. The obtained expressions pertain to the most general conditions: number of intermediate stages and the corresponding diffusion coefficients, the sizes of the target sites, the distances between them, as well as their reactivities are arbitrary.}, language = {en} } @article{CherstvyVinodAghionetal.2021, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Vinod, Deepak and Aghion, Erez and Sokolov, Igor M. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Scaled geometric Brownian motion features sub- or superexponential ensemble-averaged, but linear time-averaged mean-squared displacements}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {103}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.103.062127}, pages = {11}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Various mathematical Black-Scholes-Merton-like models of option pricing employ the paradigmatic stochastic process of geometric Brownian motion (GBM). The innate property of such models and of real stock-market prices is the roughly exponential growth of prices with time [on average, in crisis-free times]. We here explore the ensemble- and time averages of a multiplicative-noise stochastic process with power-law-like time-dependent volatility, sigma(t) similar to t(alpha), named scaled GBM (SGBM). For SGBM, the mean-squared displacement (MSD) computed for an ensemble of statistically equivalent trajectories can grow faster than exponentially in time, while the time-averaged MSD (TAMSD)-based on a sliding-window averaging along a single trajectory-is always linear at short lag times Delta. The proportionality factor between these the two averages of the time series is Delta/T at short lag times, where T is the trajectory length, similarly to GBM. This discrepancy of the scaling relations and pronounced nonequivalence of the MSD and TAMSD at Delta/T << 1 is a manifestation of weak ergodicity breaking for standard GBM and for SGBM with s (t)-modulation, the main focus of our analysis. The analytical predictions for the MSD and mean TAMSD for SGBM are in quantitative agreement with the results of stochastic computer simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{VargheseChechkinMetzleretal.2021, author = {Varghese, Alan J. and Chechkin, Aleksei and Metzler, Ralf and Sujith, Raman I.}, title = {Capturing multifractality of pressure fluctuations in thermoacoustic systems using fractional-order derivatives}, series = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, volume = {31}, journal = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics, AIP}, address = {Melville}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/5.0032585}, pages = {9}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The stable operation of a turbulent combustor is not completely silent; instead, there is a background of small amplitude aperiodic acoustic fluctuations known as combustion noise. Pressure fluctuations during this state of combustion noise are multifractal due to the presence of multiple temporal scales that contribute to its dynamics. However, existing models are unable to capture the multifractality in the pressure fluctuations. We conjecture an underlying fractional dynamics for the thermoacoustic system and obtain a fractional-order model for pressure fluctuations. The data from this model has remarkable visual similarity to the experimental data and also has a wide multifractal spectrum during the state of combustion noise. Quantitative similarity with the experimental data in terms of the Hurst exponent and the multifractal spectrum is observed during the state of combustion noise. This model is also able to produce pressure fluctuations that are qualitatively similar to the experimental data acquired during intermittency and thermoacoustic instability. Furthermore, we argue that the fractional dynamics vanish as we approach the state of thermoacoustic instability.}, language = {en} } @article{CherstvySafdariMetzler2021, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Safdari, Hadiseh and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Anomalous diffusion, nonergodicity, and ageing for exponentially and logarithmically time-dependent diffusivity}, series = {Journal of physics. D, Applied physics}, volume = {54}, journal = {Journal of physics. D, Applied physics}, number = {19}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0022-3727}, doi = {10.1088/1361-6463/abdff0}, pages = {18}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We investigate a diffusion process with a time-dependent diffusion coefficient, both exponentially increasing and decreasing in time, D(t)=D-0(e +/- 2 alpha t). For this (hypothetical) nonstationary diffusion process we compute-both analytically and from extensive stochastic simulations-the behavior of the ensemble- and time-averaged mean-squared displacements (MSDs) of the particles, both in the over- and underdamped limits. Simple asymptotic relations derived for the short- and long-time behaviors are shown to be in excellent agreement with the results of simulations. The diffusive characteristics in the presence of ageing are also considered, with dramatic differences of the over- versus underdamped regime. Our results for D(t)=D-0(e +/- 2 alpha t) extend and generalize the class of diffusive systems obeying scaled Brownian motion featuring a power-law-like variation of the diffusivity with time, D(t) similar to t(alpha-1). We also examine the logarithmically increasing diffusivity, D(t)=D(0)log[t/tau(0)], as another fundamental functional dependence (in addition to the power-law and exponential) and as an example of diffusivity slowly varying in time. One of the main conclusions is that the behavior of the massive particles is predominantly ergodic, while weak ergodicity breaking is repeatedly found for the time-dependent diffusion of the massless particles at short times. The latter manifests itself in the nonequivalence of the (both nonaged and aged) MSD and the mean time-averaged MSD. The current findings are potentially applicable to a class of physical systems out of thermal equilibrium where a rapid increase or decrease of the particles' diffusivity is inherently realized. One biological system potentially featuring all three types of time-dependent diffusion (power-law-like, exponential, and logarithmic) is water diffusion in the brain tissues, as we thoroughly discuss in the end.}, language = {en} } @article{WangCherstvyKantzetal.2021, author = {Wang, Wei and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Kantz, Holger and Metzler, Ralf and Sokolov, Igor M.}, title = {Time averaging and emerging nonergodicity upon resetting of fractional Brownian motion and heterogeneous diffusion processes}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {104}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Woodbury, NY}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.104.024105}, pages = {27}, year = {2021}, abstract = {How different are the results of constant-rate resetting of anomalous-diffusion processes in terms of their ensemble-averaged versus time-averaged mean-squared displacements (MSDs versus TAMSDs) and how does stochastic resetting impact nonergodicity? We examine, both analytically and by simulations, the implications of resetting on the MSD- and TAMSD-based spreading dynamics of particles executing fractional Brownian motion (FBM) with a long-time memory, heterogeneous diffusion processes (HDPs) with a power-law space-dependent diffusivity D(x) = D0|x|gamma and their "combined" process of HDP-FBM. We find, inter alia, that the resetting dynamics of originally ergodic FBM for superdiffusive Hurst exponents develops disparities in scaling and magnitudes of the MSDs and mean TAMSDs indicating weak ergodicity breaking. For subdiffusive HDPs we also quantify the nonequivalence of the MSD and TAMSD and observe a new trimodal form of the probability density function. For reset FBM, HDPs and HDP-FBM we compute analytically and verify by simulations the short-time MSD and TAMSD asymptotes and long-time plateaus reminiscent of those for processes under confinement. We show that certain characteristics of these reset processes are functionally similar despite a different stochastic nature of their nonreset variants. Importantly, we discover nonmonotonicity of the ergodicitybreaking parameter EB as a function of the resetting rate r. For all reset processes studied we unveil a pronounced resetting-induced nonergodicity with a maximum of EB at intermediate r and EB similar to(1/r )-decay at large r. Alongside the emerging MSD-versus-TAMSD disparity, this r-dependence of EB can be an experimentally testable prediction. We conclude by discussing some implications to experimental systems featuring resetting dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{KlettCherstvyShinetal.2021, author = {Klett, Kolja and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Shin, Jaeoh and Sokolov, Igor M. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Non-Gaussian, transiently anomalous, and ergodic self-diffusion of flexible dumbbells in crowded two-dimensional environments}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {104}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.104.064603}, pages = {18}, year = {2021}, abstract = {We employ Langevin-dynamics simulations to unveil non-Brownian and non-Gaussian center-of-mass self-diffusion of massive flexible dumbbell-shaped particles in crowded two-dimensional solutions. We study the intradumbbell dynamics of the relative motion of the two constituent elastically coupled disks. Our main focus is on effects of the crowding fraction phi and of the particle structure on the diffusion characteristics. We evaluate the time-averaged mean-squared displacement (TAMSD), the displacement probability-density function (PDF), and the displacement autocorrelation function (ACF) of the dimers. For the TAMSD at highly crowded conditions of dumbbells, e.g., we observe a transition from the short-time ballistic behavior, via an intermediate subdiffusive regime, to long-time Brownian-like spreading dynamics. The crowded system of dimers exhibits two distinct diffusion regimes distinguished by the scaling exponent of the TAMSD, the dependence of the diffusivity on phi, and the features of the displacement-ACF. We attribute these regimes to a crowding-induced transition from viscous to viscoelastic diffusion upon growing phi. We also analyze the relative motion in the dimers, finding that larger phi suppress their vibrations and yield strongly non-Gaussian PDFs of rotational displacements. For the diffusion coefficients D(phi) of translational and rotational motion of the dumbbells an exponential decay with phi for weak and a power-law variation D(phi) proportional to (phi - phi(star))(2.4) for strong crowding is found. A comparison of simulation results with theoretical predictions for D(phi) is discussed and some relevant experimental systems are overviewed.}, language = {en} } @article{CherstvyWangMetzleretal.2021, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Wang, Wei and Metzler, Ralf and Sokolov, Igor M.}, title = {Inertia triggers nonergodicity of fractional Brownian motion}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {104}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.104.024115}, pages = {12}, year = {2021}, abstract = {How related are the ergodic properties of the over- and underdamped Langevin equations driven by fractional Gaussian noise? We here find that for massive particles performing fractional Brownian motion (FBM) inertial effects not only destroy the stylized fact of the equivalence of the ensemble-averaged mean-squared displacement (MSD) to the time-averaged MSD (TAMSD) of overdamped or massless FBM, but also dramatically alter the values of the ergodicity-breaking parameter (EB). Our theoretical results for the behavior of EB for underdamped or massive FBM for varying particle mass m, Hurst exponent H, and trace length T are in excellent agreement with the findings of stochastic computer simulations. The current results can be of interest for the experimental community employing various single-particle-tracking techniques and aiming at assessing the degree of nonergodicity for the recorded time series (studying, e.g., the behavior of EB versus lag time). To infer FBM as a realizable model of anomalous diffusion for a set single-particle-tracking data when massive particles are being tracked, the EBs from the data should be compared to EBs of massive (rather than massless) FBM.}, language = {en} } @article{DahlenburgChechkinSchumeretal.2021, author = {Dahlenburg, Marcus and Chechkin, Aleksei and Schumer, Rina and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Stochastic resetting by a random amplitude}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {103}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {5}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {Woodbury, NY}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.103.052123}, pages = {22}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Stochastic resetting, a diffusive process whose amplitude is reset to the origin at random times, is a vividly studied strategy to optimize encounter dynamics, e.g., in chemical reactions. Here we generalize the resetting step by introducing a random resetting amplitude such that the diffusing particle may be only partially reset towards the trajectory origin or even overshoot the origin in a resetting step. We introduce different scenarios for the random-amplitude stochastic resetting process and discuss the resulting dynamics. Direct applications are geophysical layering (stratigraphy) and population dynamics or financial markets, as well as generic search processes.}, language = {en} } @article{MardoukhiChechkinMetzler2020, author = {Mardoukhi, Yousof and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Spurious ergodicity breaking in normal and fractional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {IOP}, address = {London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab950b}, pages = {18}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process is a stationary and ergodic Gaussian process, that is fully determined by its covariance function and mean. We show here that the generic definitions of the ensemble- and time-averaged mean squared displacements fail to capture these properties consistently, leading to a spurious ergodicity breaking. We propose to remedy this failure by redefining the mean squared displacements such that they reflect unambiguously the statistical properties of any stochastic process. In particular we study the effect of the initial condition in the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process and its fractional extension. For the fractional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process representing typical experimental situations in crowded environments such as living biological cells, we show that the stationarity of the process delicately depends on the initial condition.}, language = {en} } @article{XuZhouMetzleretal.2020, author = {Xu, Pengbo and Zhou, Tian and Metzler, Ralf and Deng, Weihua}, title = {L{\´e}vy walk dynamics in an external harmonic potential}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {101}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.101.062127}, pages = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Levy walks (LWs) are spatiotemporally coupled random-walk processes describing superdiffusive heat conduction in solids, propagation of light in disordered optical materials, motion of molecular motors in living cells, or motion of animals, humans, robots, and viruses. We here investigate a key feature of LWs-their response to an external harmonic potential. In this generic setting for confined motion we demonstrate that LWs equilibrate exponentially and may assume a bimodal stationary distribution. We also show that the stationary distribution has a horizontal slope next to a reflecting boundary placed at the origin, in contrast to correlated superdiffusive processes. Our results generalize LWs to confining forces and settle some longstanding puzzles around LWs.}, language = {en} } @article{KosztolowiczMetzlerWąsiketal.2020, author = {Kosztolowicz, Tadeusz and Metzler, Ralf and Wąsik, Slawomir and Arabski, Michal}, title = {Modelling experimentally measured of ciprofloxacin antibiotic diffusion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formed in artificial sputum medium}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {15}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, publisher = {PLOS}, address = {San Francisco, California, US}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0243003}, pages = {14}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We study the experimentally measured ciprofloxacin antibiotic diffusion through a gel-like artificial sputum medium (ASM) mimicking physiological conditions typical for a cystic fibrosis layer, in which regions occupied by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are present. To quantify the antibiotic diffusion dynamics we employ a phenomenological model using a subdiffusion-absorption equation with a fractional time derivative. This effective equation describes molecular diffusion in a medium structured akin Thompson's plumpudding model; here the 'pudding' background represents the ASM and the 'plums' represent the bacterial biofilm. The pudding is a subdiffusion barrier for antibiotic molecules that can affect bacteria found in plums. For the experimental study we use an interferometric method to determine the time evolution of the amount of antibiotic that has diffused through the biofilm. The theoretical model shows that this function is qualitatively different depending on whether or not absorption of the antibiotic in the biofilm occurs. We show that the process can be divided into three successive stages: (1) only antibiotic subdiffusion with constant biofilm parameters, (2) subdiffusion and absorption of antibiotic molecules with variable biofilm transport parameters, (3) subdiffusion and absorption in the medium but the biofilm parameters are constant again. Stage 2 is interpreted as the appearance of an intensive defence build-up of bacteria against the action of the antibiotic, and in the stage 3 it is likely that the bacteria have been inactivated. Times at which stages change are determined from the experimentally obtained temporal evolution of the amount of antibiotic that has diffused through the ASM with bacteria. Our analysis shows good agreement between experimental and theoretical results and is consistent with the biologically expected biofilm response. We show that an experimental method to study the temporal evolution of the amount of a substance that has diffused through a biofilm is useful in studying the processes occurring in a biofilm. We also show that the complicated biological process of antibiotic diffusion in a biofilm can be described by a fractional subdiffusion-absorption equation with subdiffusion and absorption parameters that change over time.}, language = {en} } @article{GranadoAbadMetzleretal.2020, author = {Granado, Felipe Le Vot and Abad, Enrique and Metzler, Ralf and Yuste, Santos B.}, title = {Continuous time random walk in a velocity field}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab9ae2}, pages = {27}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We consider the emerging dynamics of a separable continuous time random walk (CTRW) in the case when the random walker is biased by a velocity field in a uniformly growing domain. Concrete examples for such domains include growing biological cells or lipid vesicles, biofilms and tissues, but also macroscopic systems such as expanding aquifers during rainy periods, or the expanding Universe. The CTRW in this study can be subdiffusive, normal diffusive or superdiffusive, including the particular case of a L{\´e}vy flight. We first consider the case when the velocity field is absent. In the subdiffusive case, we reveal an interesting time dependence of the kurtosis of the particle probability density function. In particular, for a suitable parameter choice, we find that the propagator, which is fat tailed at short times, may cross over to a Gaussian-like propagator. We subsequently incorporate the effect of the velocity field and derive a bi-fractional diffusion-advection equation encoding the time evolution of the particle distribution. We apply this equation to study the mixing kinetics of two diffusing pulses, whose peaks move towards each other under the action of velocity fields acting in opposite directions. This deterministic motion of the peaks, together with the diffusive spreading of each pulse, tends to increase particle mixing, thereby counteracting the peak separation induced by the domain growth. As a result of this competition, different regimes of mixing arise. In the case of L{\´e}vy flights, apart from the non-mixing regime, one has two different mixing regimes in the long-time limit, depending on the exact parameter choice: in one of these regimes, mixing is mainly driven by diffusive spreading, while in the other mixing is controlled by the velocity fields acting on each pulse. Possible implications for encounter-controlled reactions in real systems are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{FernandezCharcharCherstvyetal.2020, author = {Fernandez, Amanda Diez and Charchar, Patrick and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf and Finnis, Michael W.}, title = {The diffusion of doxorubicin drug molecules in silica nanoslits is non-Gaussian, intermittent and anticorrelated}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics}, number = {48}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/d0cp03849k}, pages = {27955 -- 27965}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In this study we investigate, using all-atom molecular-dynamics computer simulations, the in-plane diffusion of a doxorubicin drug molecule in a thin film of water confined between two silica surfaces. We find that the molecule diffuses along the channel in the manner of a Gaussian diffusion process, but with parameters that vary according to its varying transversal position. Our analysis identifies that four Gaussians, each describing particle motion in a given transversal region, are needed to adequately describe the data. Each of these processes by itself evolves with time at a rate slower than that associated with classical Brownian motion due to a predominance of anticorrelated displacements. Long adsorption events lead to ageing, a property observed when the diffusion is intermittently hindered for periods of time with an average duration which is theoretically infinite. This study presents a simple system in which many interesting features of anomalous diffusion can be explored. It exposes the complexity of diffusion in nanoconfinement and highlights the need to develop new understanding.}, language = {en} } @article{WangCherstvyChechkinetal.2020, author = {Wang, Wei and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Thapa, Samudrajit and Seno, Flavio and Liu, Xianbin and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Fractional Brownian motion with random diffusivity}, series = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, volume = {53}, journal = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, number = {47}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1751-8113}, doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/aba467}, pages = {34}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Numerous examples for a priori unexpected non-Gaussian behaviour for normal and anomalous diffusion have recently been reported in single-particle tracking experiments. Here, we address the case of non-Gaussian anomalous diffusion in terms of a random-diffusivity mechanism in the presence of power-law correlated fractional Gaussian noise. We study the ergodic properties of this model via examining the ensemble- and time-averaged mean-squared displacements as well as the ergodicity breaking parameter EB quantifying the trajectory-to-trajectory fluctuations of the latter. For long measurement times, interesting crossover behaviour is found as function of the correlation time tau characterising the diffusivity dynamics. We unveil that at short lag times the EB parameter reaches a universal plateau. The corresponding residual value of EB is shown to depend only on tau and the trajectory length. The EB parameter at long lag times, however, follows the same power-law scaling as for fractional Brownian motion. We also determine a corresponding plateau at short lag times for the discrete representation of fractional Brownian motion, absent in the continuous-time formulation. These analytical predictions are in excellent agreement with results of computer simulations of the underlying stochastic processes. Our findings can help distinguishing and categorising certain nonergodic and non-Gaussian features of particle displacements, as observed in recent single-particle tracking experiments.}, language = {en} } @article{WangCherstvyLiuetal.2020, author = {Wang, Wei and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Liu, Xianbin and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Anomalous diffusion and nonergodicity for heterogeneous diffusion processes with fractional Gaussian noise}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {102}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.102.012146}, pages = {012146-1 -- 012146-16}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Heterogeneous diffusion processes (HDPs) feature a space-dependent diffusivity of the form D(x) = D-0|x|(alpha). Such processes yield anomalous diffusion and weak ergodicity breaking, the asymptotic disparity between ensemble and time averaged observables, such as the mean-squared displacement. Fractional Brownian motion (FBM) with its long-range correlated yet Gaussian increments gives rise to anomalous and ergodic diffusion. Here, we study a combined model of HDPs and FBM to describe the particle dynamics in complex systems with position-dependent diffusivity driven by fractional Gaussian noise. This type of motion is, inter alia, relevant for tracer-particle diffusion in biological cells or heterogeneous complex fluids. We show that the long-time scaling behavior predicted theoretically and by simulations for the ensemble-and time-averaged mean-squared displacements couple the scaling exponents alpha of HDPs and the Hurst exponent H of FBM in a characteristic way. Our analysis of the simulated data in terms of the rescaled variable y similar to |x|(1/(2/(2-alpha)))/t(H) coupling particle position x and time t yields a simple, Gaussian probability density function (PDF), PHDP-FBM(y) = e(-y2)/root pi. Its universal shape agrees well with theoretical predictions for both uni- and bimodal PDF distributions.}, language = {en} } @article{AwadMetzler2020, author = {Awad, Emad and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Crossover dynamics from superdiffusion to subdiffusion}, series = {Fractional calculus and applied analysis : an international journal for theory and applications}, volume = {23}, journal = {Fractional calculus and applied analysis : an international journal for theory and applications}, number = {1}, publisher = {De Gruyter}, address = {Berlin ; Boston}, issn = {1311-0454}, doi = {10.1515/fca-2020-0003}, pages = {55 -- 102}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The Cattaneo or telegrapher's equation describes the crossover from initial ballistic to normal diffusion. Here we study and survey time-fractional generalisations of this equation that are shown to produce the crossover of the mean squared displacement from superdiffusion to subdiffusion. Conditional solutions are derived in terms of Fox H-functions and the dth-order moments as well as the diffusive flux of the different models are derived. Moreover, the concept of the distribution-like is proposed as an alternative to the probability density function.}, language = {en} } @article{CaetanoCarvalhoMetzleretal.2020, author = {Caetano, Daniel L. Z. and Carvalho, Sidney Jurado de and Metzler, Ralf and Cherstvy, Andrey G.}, title = {Critical adsorption of multiple polyelectrolytes onto a nanosphere}, series = {Interface : journal of the Royal Society}, volume = {17}, journal = {Interface : journal of the Royal Society}, number = {167}, publisher = {Royal Society}, address = {London}, issn = {1742-5689}, doi = {10.1098/rsif.2020.0199}, pages = {10}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Employing extensive Monte Carlo computer simulations, we investigate in detail the properties of multichain adsorption of charged flexible polyelectrolytes (PEs) onto oppositely charged spherical nanoparticles (SNPs). We quantify the conditions of critical adsorption-the phase-separation curve between the adsorbed and desorbed states of the PEs-as a function of the SNP surface-charge density and the concentration of added salt. We study the degree of fluctuations of the PE-SNP electrostatic binding energy, which we use to quantify the emergence of the phase subtransitions, including a series of partially adsorbed PE configurations. We demonstrate how the phase-separation adsorption-desorption boundary shifts and splits into multiple subtransitions at low-salt conditions, thereby generalizing and extending the results for critical adsorption of a single PE onto the SNP. The current findings are relevant for finite concentrations of PEs around the attracting SNP, such as the conditions for PE adsorption onto globular proteins carrying opposite electric charges.}, language = {en} } @article{StojkoskiSandevBasnarkovetal.2020, author = {Stojkoski, Viktor and Sandev, Trifce and Basnarkov, Lasko and Kocarev, Ljupco and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Generalised geometric Brownian motion}, series = {Entropy}, volume = {22}, journal = {Entropy}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1099-4300}, doi = {10.3390/e22121432}, pages = {34}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Classical option pricing schemes assume that the value of a financial asset follows a geometric Brownian motion (GBM). However, a growing body of studies suggest that a simple GBM trajectory is not an adequate representation for asset dynamics, due to irregularities found when comparing its properties with empirical distributions. As a solution, we investigate a generalisation of GBM where the introduction of a memory kernel critically determines the behaviour of the stochastic process. We find the general expressions for the moments, log-moments, and the expectation of the periodic log returns, and then obtain the corresponding probability density functions using the subordination approach. Particularly, we consider subdiffusive GBM (sGBM), tempered sGBM, a mix of GBM and sGBM, and a mix of sGBMs. We utilise the resulting generalised GBM (gGBM) in order to examine the empirical performance of a selected group of kernels in the pricing of European call options. Our results indicate that the performance of a kernel ultimately depends on the maturity of the option and its moneyness.}, language = {en} } @article{XuLiuLietal.2020, author = {Xu, Yong and Liu, Xuemei and Li, Yongge and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Heterogeneous diffusion processes and nonergodicity with Gaussian colored noise in layered diffusivity landscapes}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {102}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.102.062106}, pages = {16}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Heterogeneous diffusion processes (HDPs) with space-dependent diffusion coefficients D(x) are found in a number of real-world systems, such as for diffusion of macromolecules or submicron tracers in biological cells. Here, we examine HDPs in quenched-disorder systems with Gaussian colored noise (GCN) characterized by a diffusion coefficient with a power-law dependence on the particle position and with a spatially random scaling exponent. Typically, D(x) is considered to be centerd at the origin and the entire x axis is characterized by a single scaling exponent a. In this work we consider a spatially random scenario: in periodic intervals ("layers") in space D(x) is centerd to the midpoint of each interval. In each interval the scaling exponent alpha is randomly chosen from a Gaussian distribution. The effects of the variation of the scaling exponents, the periodicity of the domains ("layer thickness") of the diffusion coefficient in this stratified system, and the correlation time of the GCN are analyzed numerically in detail. We discuss the regimes of superdiffusion, subdiffusion, and normal diffusion realisable in this system. We observe and quantify the domains where nonergodic and non-Gaussian behaviors emerge in this system. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of weak ergodicity breaking for HDPs driven by colored noise, with potential applications in quenched layered systems, typical model systems for diffusion in biological cells and tissues, as well as for diffusion in geophysical systems.}, language = {en} } @article{CapałaPadashChechkinetal.2020, author = {Capała, Karol and Padash, Amin and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Shokri, Babak and Metzler, Ralf and Dybiec, Bartłomiej}, title = {Levy noise-driven escape from arctangent potential wells}, series = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, volume = {30}, journal = {Chaos : an interdisciplinary journal of nonlinear science}, number = {12}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Woodbury, NY}, issn = {1054-1500}, doi = {10.1063/5.0021795}, pages = {15}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The escape from a potential well is an archetypal problem in the study of stochastic dynamical systems, representing real-world situations from chemical reactions to leaving an established home range in movement ecology. Concurrently, Levy noise is a well-established approach to model systems characterized by statistical outliers and diverging higher order moments, ranging from gene expression control to the movement patterns of animals and humans. Here, we study the problem of Levy noise-driven escape from an almost rectangular, arctangent potential well restricted by two absorbing boundaries, mostly under the action of the Cauchy noise. We unveil analogies of the observed transient dynamics to the general properties of stationary states of Levy processes in single-well potentials. The first-escape dynamics is shown to exhibit exponential tails. We examine the dependence of the escape on the shape parameters, steepness, and height of the arctangent potential. Finally, we explore in detail the behavior of the probability densities of the first-escape time and the last-hitting point.}, language = {en} } @article{LiMeiXuetal.2020, author = {Li, Yongge and Mei, Ruoxing and Xu, Yong and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Duan, Jinqiao and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Particle dynamics and transport enhancement in a confined channel with position-dependent diffusivity}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab81b9}, pages = {27}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This work focuses on the dynamics of particles in a confined geometry with position-dependent diffusivity, where the confinement is modelled by a periodic channel consisting of unit cells connected by narrow passage ways. We consider three functional forms for the diffusivity, corresponding to the scenarios of a constant (D ₀), as well as a low (D ₘ) and a high (D d) mobility diffusion in cell centre of the longitudinally symmetric cells. Due to the interaction among the diffusivity, channel shape and external force, the system exhibits complex and interesting phenomena. By calculating the probability density function, mean velocity and mean first exit time with the It{\^o} calculus form, we find that in the absence of external forces the diffusivity D d will redistribute particles near the channel wall, while the diffusivity D ₘ will trap them near the cell centre. The superposition of external forces will break their static distributions. Besides, our results demonstrate that for the diffusivity D d, a high dependence on the x coordinate (parallel with the central channel line) will improve the mean velocity of the particles. In contrast, for the diffusivity D ₘ, a weak dependence on the x coordinate will dramatically accelerate the moving speed. In addition, it shows that a large external force can weaken the influences of different diffusivities; inversely, for a small external force, the types of diffusivity affect significantly the particle dynamics. In practice, one can apply these results to achieve a prominent enhancement of the particle transport in two- or three-dimensional channels by modulating the local tracer diffusivity via an engineered gel of varying porosity or by adding a cold tube to cool down the diffusivity along the central line, which may be a relevant effect in engineering applications. Effects of different stochastic calculi in the evaluation of the underlying multiplicative stochastic equation for different physical scenarios are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{SposiniGrebenkovMetzleretal.2020, author = {Sposini, Vittoria and Grebenkov, Denis S. and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb and Seno, Flavio}, title = {Universal spectral features of different classes of random-diffusivity processes}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab9200}, pages = {26}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Stochastic models based on random diffusivities, such as the diffusing-diffusivity approach, are popular concepts for the description of non-Gaussian diffusion in heterogeneous media. Studies of these models typically focus on the moments and the displacement probability density function. Here we develop the complementary power spectral description for a broad class of random-diffusivity processes. In our approach we cater for typical single particle tracking data in which a small number of trajectories with finite duration are garnered. Apart from the diffusing-diffusivity model we study a range of previously unconsidered random-diffusivity processes, for which we obtain exact forms of the probability density function. These new processes are different versions of jump processes as well as functionals of Brownian motion. The resulting behaviour subtly depends on the specific model details. Thus, the central part of the probability density function may be Gaussian or non-Gaussian, and the tails may assume Gaussian, exponential, log-normal, or even power-law forms. For all these models we derive analytically the moment-generating function for the single-trajectory power spectral density. We establish the generic 1/f²-scaling of the power spectral density as function of frequency in all cases. Moreover, we establish the probability density for the amplitudes of the random power spectral density of individual trajectories. The latter functions reflect the very specific properties of the different random-diffusivity models considered here. Our exact results are in excellent agreement with extensive numerical simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{GrebenkovMetzlerOshanin2020, author = {Grebenkov, Denis S. and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb}, title = {From single-particle stochastic kinetics to macroscopic reaction rates}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/abb1de}, pages = {28}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We consider the first-passage problem for N identical independent particles that are initially released uniformly in a finite domain Ω and then diffuse toward a reactive area Γ, which can be part of the outer boundary of Ω or a reaction centre in the interior of Ω. For both cases of perfect and partial reactions, we obtain the explicit formulas for the first two moments of the fastest first-passage time (fFPT), i.e., the time when the first out of the N particles reacts with Γ. Moreover, we investigate the full probability density of the fFPT. We discuss a significant role of the initial condition in the scaling of the average fFPT with the particle number N, namely, a much stronger dependence (1/N and 1/N² for partially and perfectly reactive targets, respectively), in contrast to the well known inverse-logarithmic behaviour found when all particles are released from the same fixed point. We combine analytic solutions with scaling arguments and stochastic simulations to rationalise our results, which open new perspectives for studying the relevance of multiple searchers in various situations of molecular reactions, in particular, in living cells.}, language = {en} } @article{GrebenkovSposiniMetzleretal.2020, author = {Grebenkov, Denis S. and Sposini, Vittoria and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb and Seno, Flavio}, title = {Exact distributions of the maximum and range of random diffusivity processes}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {23}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/abd313}, pages = {23}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We study the extremal properties of a stochastic process xt defined by the Langevin equation ẋₜ =√2Dₜ ξₜ, in which ξt is a Gaussian white noise with zero mean and Dₜ is a stochastic'diffusivity', defined as a functional of independent Brownian motion Bₜ.We focus on threechoices for the random diffusivity Dₜ: cut-off Brownian motion, Dₜt ∼ Θ(Bₜ), where Θ(x) is the Heaviside step function; geometric Brownian motion, Dₜ ∼ exp(-Bₜ); and a superdiffusive process based on squared Brownian motion, Dₜ ∼ B²ₜ. For these cases we derive exact expressions for the probability density functions of the maximal positive displacement and of the range of the process xₜ on the time interval ₜ ∈ (0, T).We discuss the asymptotic behaviours of the associated probability density functions, compare these against the behaviour of the corresponding properties of standard Brownian motion with constant diffusivity (Dₜ = D0) and also analyse the typical behaviour of the probability density functions which is observed for a majority of realisations of the stochastic diffusivity process.}, language = {en} } @article{WangSenoSokolovetal.2020, author = {Wang, Wei and Seno, Flavio and Sokolov, Igor M. and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Unexpected crossovers in correlated random-diffusivity processes}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {22}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/aba390}, pages = {17}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The passive and active motion of micron-sized tracer particles in crowded liquids and inside living biological cells is ubiquitously characterised by 'viscoelastic' anomalous diffusion, in which the increments of the motion feature long-ranged negative and positive correlations. While viscoelastic anomalous diffusion is typically modelled by a Gaussian process with correlated increments, so-called fractional Gaussian noise, an increasing number of systems are reported, in which viscoelastic anomalous diffusion is paired with non-Gaussian displacement distributions. Following recent advances in Brownian yet non-Gaussian diffusion we here introduce and discuss several possible versions of random-diffusivity models with long-ranged correlations. While all these models show a crossover from non-Gaussian to Gaussian distributions beyond some correlation time, their mean squared displacements exhibit strikingly different behaviours: depending on the model crossovers from anomalous to normal diffusion are observed, as well as a priori unexpected dependencies of the effective diffusion coefficient on the correlation exponent. Our observations of the non-universality of random-diffusivity viscoelastic anomalous diffusion are important for the analysis of experiments and a better understanding of the physical origins of 'viscoelastic yet non-Gaussian' diffusion.}, language = {en} } @article{EmanuelCherstvyMetzleretal.2020, author = {Emanuel, Marc D. and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf and Gompper, Gerhard}, title = {Buckling transitions and soft-phase invasion of two-component icosahedral shells}, series = {Physical review / publ. by The American Physical Society. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, volume = {102}, journal = {Physical review / publ. by The American Physical Society. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Woodbury}, address = {New York}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.102.062104}, pages = {26}, year = {2020}, abstract = {What is the optimal distribution of two types of crystalline phases on the surface of icosahedral shells, such as of many viral capsids? We here investigate the distribution of a thin layer of soft material on a crystalline convex icosahedral shell. We demonstrate how the shapes of spherical viruses can be understood from the perspective of elasticity theory of thin two-component shells. We develop a theory of shape transformations of an icosahedral shell upon addition of a softer, but still crystalline, material onto its surface. We show how the soft component "invades" the regions with the highest elastic energy and stress imposed by the 12 topological defects on the surface. We explore the phase diagram as a function of the surface fraction of the soft material, the shell size, and the incommensurability of the elastic moduli of the rigid and soft phases. We find that, as expected, progressive filling of the rigid shell by the soft phase starts from the most deformed regions of the icosahedron. With a progressively increasing soft-phase coverage, the spherical segments of domes are filled first (12 vertices of the shell), then the cylindrical segments connecting the domes (30 edges) are invaded, and, ultimately, the 20 flat faces of the icosahedral shell tend to be occupied by the soft material. We present a detailed theoretical investigation of the first two stages of this invasion process and develop a model of morphological changes of the cone structure that permits noncircular cross sections. In conclusion, we discuss the biological relevance of some structures predicted from our calculations, in particular for the shape of viral capsids.}, language = {en} } @article{LiXuLietal.2020, author = {Li, Hua and Xu, Yong and Li, Yongge and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Transition path dynamics across rough inverted parabolic potential barrier}, series = {The European physical journal : Plus}, volume = {135}, journal = {The European physical journal : Plus}, number = {9}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin ; Heidelberg}, issn = {2190-5444}, doi = {10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00752-7}, pages = {22}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Transition path dynamics have been widely studied in chemical, physical, and technological systems. Mostly, the transition path dynamics is obtained for smooth barrier potentials, for instance, generic inverse-parabolic shapes. We here present analytical results for the mean transition path time, the distribution of transition path times, the mean transition path velocity, and the mean transition path shape in a rough inverted parabolic potential function under the driving of Gaussian white noise. These are validated against extensive simulations using the forward flux sampling scheme in parallel computations. We observe how precisely the potential roughness, the barrier height, and the noise intensity contribute to the particle transition in the rough inverted barrier potential.}, language = {en} } @article{KosztolowiczMetzler2020, author = {Kosztolowicz, Tadeusz and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Diffusion of antibiotics through a biofilm in the presence of diffusion and absorption barriers}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {102}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {3}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.102.032408}, pages = {11}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We propose a model of antibiotic diffusion through a bacterial biofilm when diffusion and/or absorption barriers develop in the biofilm. The idea of this model is: We deduce details of the diffusion process in a medium in which direct experimental study is difficult, based on probing diffusion in external regions. Since a biofilm has a gel-like consistency, we suppose that subdiffusion of particles in the biofilm may occur. To describe this process we use a fractional subdiffusion-absorption equation with an adjustable anomalous diffusion exponent. The boundary conditions at the boundaries of the biofilm are derived by means of a particle random walk model on a discrete lattice leading to an expression involving a fractional time derivative. We show that the temporal evolution of the total amount of substance that has diffused through the biofilm explicitly depends on whether there is antibiotic absorption in the biofilm. This fact is used to experimentally check for antibiotic absorption in the biofilm and if subdiffusion and absorption parameters of the biofilm change over time. We propose a four-stage model of antibiotic diffusion in biofilm based on the following physical characteristics: whether there is absorption of the antibiotic in the biofilm and whether all biofilm parameters remain unchanged over time. The biological interpretation of the stages, in particular their relation with the bacterial defense mechanisms, is discussed. Theoretical results are compared with empirical results of ciprofloxacin diffusion through Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm, and ciprofloxacin and gentamicin diffusion through Proteus mirabilis biofilm.}, language = {en} } @article{SinghMetzlerSandev2020, author = {Singh, Rishu Kumar and Metzler, Ralf and Sandev, Trifce}, title = {Resetting dynamics in a confining potential}, series = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, volume = {53}, journal = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, number = {50}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1751-8113}, doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/abc83a}, pages = {28}, year = {2020}, abstract = {We study Brownian motion in a confining potential under a constant-rate resetting to a reset position x(0). The relaxation of this system to the steady-state exhibits a dynamic phase transition, and is achieved in a light cone region which grows linearly with time. When an absorbing boundary is introduced, effecting a symmetry breaking of the system, we find that resetting aids the barrier escape only when the particle starts on the same side as the barrier with respect to the origin. We find that the optimal resetting rate exhibits a continuous phase transition with critical exponent of unity. Exact expressions are derived for the mean escape time, the second moment, and the coefficient of variation (CV).}, language = {en} } @article{MejiaMonasterioMetzlerVollmer2020, author = {Mejia-Monasterio, Carlos and Metzler, Ralf and Vollmer, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Editorial: anomalous transport}, series = {Frontiers in Physics}, volume = {8}, journal = {Frontiers in Physics}, publisher = {Frontiers Media}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2296-424X}, doi = {10.3389/fphy.2020.622417}, pages = {4}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{EliazarMetzlerReuveni2019, author = {Eliazar, Iddo and Metzler, Ralf and Reuveni, Shlomi}, title = {Poisson-process limit laws yield Gumbel max-min and min-max}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {100}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.100.022129}, pages = {12}, year = {2019}, abstract = {"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link" says the proverb. But what about a collection of statistically identical chains: How long till all chains fail? The answer to this question is given by the max-min of a matrix whose (i,j)entry is the failure time of link j of chain i: take the minimum of each row, and then the maximum of the rows' minima. The corresponding min-max is obtained by taking the maximum of each column, and then the minimum of the columns' maxima. The min-max applies to the storage of critical data. Indeed, consider multiple backup copies of a set of critical data items, and consider the (i,j) matrix entry to be the time at which item j on copy i is lost; then, the min-max is the time at which the first critical data item is lost. In this paper we address random matrices whose entries are independent and identically distributed random variables. We establish Poisson-process limit laws for the row's minima and for the columns' maxima. Then, we further establish Gumbel limit laws for the max-min and for the min-max. The limit laws hold whenever the entries' distribution has a density, and yield highly applicable approximation tools and design tools for the max-min and min-max of large random matrices. A brief of the results presented herein is given in: Gumbel central limit theorem for max-min and min-max}, language = {en} } @article{EliazarMetzlerReuveni2019, author = {Eliazar, Iddo and Metzler, Ralf and Reuveni, Shlomi}, title = {Gumbel central limit theorem for max-min and min-max}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {100}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.100.020104}, pages = {6}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The max-min and min-max of matrices arise prevalently in science and engineering. However, in many real-world situations the computation of the max-min and min-max is challenging as matrices are large and full information about their entries is lacking. Here we take a statistical-physics approach and establish limit laws—akin to the central limit theorem—for the max-min and min-max of large random matrices. The limit laws intertwine random-matrix theory and extreme-value theory, couple the matrix dimensions geometrically, and assert that Gumbel statistics emerge irrespective of the matrix entries' distribution. Due to their generality and universality, as well as their practicality, these results are expected to have a host of applications in the physical sciences and beyond.}, language = {en} } @article{KrapfMetzler2019, author = {Krapf, Diego and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Strange interfacial molecular dynamics}, series = {Physics today}, volume = {72}, journal = {Physics today}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0031-9228}, doi = {10.1063/PT.3.4294}, pages = {48 -- 54}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{TeomyMetzler2019, author = {Teomy, Eial and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Transport in exclusion processes with one-step memory: density dependence and optimal acceleration}, series = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, volume = {52}, journal = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, number = {38}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1751-8113}, doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/ab37e4}, pages = {19}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We study a lattice gas of persistent walkers, in which each site is occupied by at most one particle and the direction each particle attempts to move to depends on its last step. We analyse the mean squared displacement (MSD) of the particles as a function of the particle density and their persistence (the tendency to continue moving in the same direction). For positive persistence the MSD behaves as expected: it increases with the persistence and decreases with the density. However, for strong anti-persistence we find two different regimes, in which the dependence of the MSD on the density is non-monotonic. For very strong anti-persistence there is an optimal density at which the MSD reaches a maximum. In an intermediate regime, the MSD as a function of the density exhibits both a minimum and a maximum, a phenomenon which has not been observed before. We derive a mean-field theory which qualitatively explains this behaviour.}, language = {en} } @article{PalyulinBlackburnLomholtetal.2019, author = {Palyulin, Vladimir V. and Blackburn, George and Lomholt, Michael A. and Watkins, Nicholas W. and Metzler, Ralf and Klages, Rainer and Chechkin, Aleksei V.}, title = {First passage and first hitting times of Levy flights and Levy walks}, series = {New journal of physics : the open-access journal for physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New journal of physics : the open-access journal for physics}, number = {10}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab41bb}, pages = {23}, year = {2019}, abstract = {For both L{\´e}vy flight and L{\´e}vy walk search processes we analyse the full distribution of first-passage and first-hitting (or first-arrival) times. These are, respectively, the times when the particle moves across a point at some given distance from its initial position for the first time, or when it lands at a given point for the first time. For L{\´e}vy motions with their propensity for long relocation events and thus the possibility to jump across a given point in space without actually hitting it ('leapovers'), these two definitions lead to significantly different results. We study the first-passage and first-hitting time distributions as functions of the L{\´e}vy stable index, highlighting the different behaviour for the cases when the first absolute moment of the jump length distribution is finite or infinite. In particular we examine the limits of short and long times. Our results will find their application in the mathematical modelling of random search processes as well as computer algorithms.}, language = {en} } @article{TeomyMetzler2019, author = {Teomy, Eial and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Correlations and transport in exclusion processes with general finite memory}, series = {Journal of statistical mechanics: theory and experiment}, volume = {2019}, journal = {Journal of statistical mechanics: theory and experiment}, number = {10}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1742-5468}, doi = {10.1088/1742-5468/ab47fb}, pages = {31}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @article{AydinerCherstvyMetzler2019, author = {Aydiner, Ekrem and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Money distribution in agent-based models with position-exchange dynamics}, series = {The European physical journal : B, Condensed matter and complex systems}, volume = {92}, journal = {The European physical journal : B, Condensed matter and complex systems}, number = {5}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1434-6028}, doi = {10.1140/epjb/e2019-90674-0}, pages = {4}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Wealth and income distributions are known to feature country-specific Pareto exponents for their long power-law tails. To propose a rationale for this, we introduce an agent-based dynamic model and use Monte Carlo simulations to unveil the wealth distributions in closed and open economical systems. The standard money-exchange scenario is supplemented with the position-exchange agent dynamics that vitally affects the Pareto law. Specifically, in closed systems with position-exchange dynamics the power law changes to an exponential shape, while for open systems with traps the Pareto law remains valid.}, language = {en} } @article{PadashChechkinDybiecetal.2019, author = {Padash, Amin and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Dybiec, Bartlomiej and Pavlyukevich, Ilya and Shokri, Babak and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {First-passage properties of asymmetric Levy flights}, series = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, volume = {52}, journal = {Journal of physics : A, Mathematical and theoretical}, number = {45}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1751-8113}, doi = {10.1088/1751-8121/ab493e}, pages = {48}, year = {2019}, abstract = {L{\´e}vy flights are paradigmatic generalised random walk processes, in which the independent stationary increments—the 'jump lengths'—are drawn from an -stable jump length distribution with long-tailed, power-law asymptote. As a result, the variance of L{\´e}vy flights diverges and the trajectory is characterised by occasional extremely long jumps. Such long jumps significantly decrease the probability to revisit previous points of visitation, rendering L{\´e}vy flights efficient search processes in one and two dimensions. To further quantify their precise property as random search strategies we here study the first-passage time properties of L{\´e}vy flights in one-dimensional semi-infinite and bounded domains for symmetric and asymmetric jump length distributions. To obtain the full probability density function of first-passage times for these cases we employ two complementary methods. One approach is based on the space-fractional diffusion equation for the probability density function, from which the survival probability is obtained for different values of the stable index and the skewness (asymmetry) parameter . The other approach is based on the stochastic Langevin equation with -stable driving noise. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages for explicit calculations and numerical evaluation, and the complementary approach involving both methods will be profitable for concrete applications. We also make use of the Skorokhod theorem for processes with independent increments and demonstrate that the numerical results are in good agreement with the analytical expressions for the probability density function of the first-passage times.}, language = {en} } @article{VojtaSkinnerMetzler2019, author = {Vojta, Thomas and Skinner, Sarah and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Probability density of the fractional Langevin equation with reflecting walls}, series = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, volume = {100}, journal = {Physical review : E, Statistical, nonlinear and soft matter physics}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2470-0045}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.100.042142}, pages = {11}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We investigate anomalous diffusion processes governed by the fractional Langevin equation and confined to a finite or semi-infinite interval by reflecting potential barriers. As the random and damping forces in the fractional Langevin equation fulfill the appropriate fluctuation-dissipation relation, the probability density on a finite interval converges for long times towards the expected uniform distribution prescribed by thermal equilibrium. In contrast, on a semi-infinite interval with a reflecting wall at the origin, the probability density shows pronounced deviations from the Gaussian behavior observed for normal diffusion. If the correlations of the random force are persistent (positive), particles accumulate at the reflecting wall while antipersistent (negative) correlations lead to a depletion of particles near the wall. We compare and contrast these results with the strong accumulation and depletion effects recently observed for nonthermal fractional Brownian motion with reflecting walls, and we discuss broader implications.}, language = {en} } @article{Metzler2019, author = {Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Brownian motion and beyond: first-passage, power spectrum, non-Gaussianity, and anomalous diffusion}, series = {Journal of statistical mechanics: theory and experiment}, volume = {2019}, journal = {Journal of statistical mechanics: theory and experiment}, number = {11}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1742-5468}, doi = {10.1088/1742-5468/ab4988}, pages = {18}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Brownian motion is a ubiquitous physical phenomenon across the sciences. After its discovery by Brown and intensive study since the first half of the 20th century, many different aspects of Brownian motion and stochastic processes in general have been addressed in Statistical Physics. In particular, there now exists a very large range of applications of stochastic processes in various disciplines. Here we provide a summary of some of the recent developments in the field of stochastic processes, highlighting both the experimental findings and theoretical frameworks.}, language = {en} } @article{CherstvyThapaWagneretal.2019, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Thapa, Samudrajit and Wagner, Caroline E. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Non-Gaussian, non-ergodic, and non-Fickian diffusion of tracers in mucin hydrogels}, series = {Soft matter}, volume = {15}, journal = {Soft matter}, number = {12}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1744-683X}, doi = {10.1039/c8sm02096e}, pages = {2526 -- 2551}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Native mucus is polymer-based soft-matter material of paramount biological importance. How non-Gaussian and non-ergodic is the diffusive spreading of pathogens in mucus? We study the passive, thermally driven motion of micron-sized tracers in hydrogels of mucins, the main polymeric component of mucus. We report the results of the Bayesian analysis for ranking several diffusion models for a set of tracer trajectories [C. E. Wagner et al., Biomacromolecules, 2017, 18, 3654]. The models with "diffusing diffusivity', fractional and standard Brownian motion are used. The likelihood functions and evidences of each model are computed, ranking the significance of each model for individual traces. We find that viscoelastic anomalous diffusion is often most probable, followed by Brownian motion, while the model with a diffusing diffusion coefficient is only realised rarely. Our analysis also clarifies the distribution of time-averaged displacements, correlations of scaling exponents and diffusion coefficients, and the degree of non-Gaussianity of displacements at varying pH levels. Weak ergodicity breaking is also quantified. We conclude that-consistent with the original study-diffusion of tracers in the mucin gels is most non-Gaussian and non-ergodic at low pH that corresponds to the most heterogeneous networks. Using the Bayesian approach with the nested-sampling algorithm, together with the quantitative analysis of multiple statistical measures, we report new insights into possible physical mechanisms of diffusion in mucin gels.}, language = {en} } @article{KrapfLukatMarinarietal.2019, author = {Krapf, Diego and Lukat, Nils and Marinari, Enzo and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb and Selhuber-Unkel, Christine and Squarcini, Alessio and Stadler, Lorenz and Weiss, Matthias and Xu, Xinran}, title = {Spectral Content of a Single Non-Brownian Trajectory}, series = {Physical review : X, Expanding access}, volume = {9}, journal = {Physical review : X, Expanding access}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2160-3308}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevX.9.011019}, pages = {13}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Time-dependent processes are often analyzed using the power spectral density (PSD) calculated by taking an appropriate Fourier transform of individual trajectories and finding the associated ensemble average. Frequently, the available experimental datasets are too small for such ensemble averages, and hence, it is of a great conceptual and practical importance to understand to which extent relevant information can be gained from S(f, T), the PSD of a single trajectory. Here we focus on the behavior of this random, realization-dependent variable parametrized by frequency f and observation time T, for a broad family of anomalous diffusions-fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index H-and derive exactly its probability density function. We show that S(f, T) is proportional-up to a random numerical factor whose universal distribution we determine-to the ensemble-averaged PSD. For subdiffusion (H < 1/2), we find that S(f, T) similar to A/f(2H+1) with random amplitude A. In sharp contrast, for superdiffusion (H > 1/2) S(f, T) similar to BT2H-1/f(2) with random amplitude B. Remarkably, for H > 1/2 the PSD exhibits the same frequency dependence as Brownian motion, a deceptive property that may lead to false conclusions when interpreting experimental data. Notably, for H > 1/2 the PSD is ageing and is dependent on T. Our predictions for both sub-and superdiffusion are confirmed by experiments in live cells and in agarose hydrogels and by extensive simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{ThapaLukatSelhuberUnkeletal.2019, author = {Thapa, Samudrajit and Lukat, Nils and Selhuber-Unkel, Christine and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Transient superdiffusion of polydisperse vacuoles in highly motile amoeboid cells}, series = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, volume = {150}, journal = {The journal of chemical physics : bridges a gap between journals of physics and journals of chemistr}, number = {14}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0021-9606}, doi = {10.1063/1.5086269}, pages = {18}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We perform a detailed statistical analysis of diffusive trajectories of membrane-enclosed vesicles (vacuoles) in the supercrowded cytoplasm of living Acanthamoeba castellanii cells. From the vacuole traces recorded in the center-of-area frame of moving amoebae, we examine the statistics of the time-averaged mean-squared displacements of vacuoles, their generalized diffusion coefficients and anomalous scaling exponents, the ergodicity breaking parameter, the non-Gaussian features of displacement distributions of vacuoles, the displacement autocorrelation function, as well as the distributions of speeds and positions of vacuoles inside the amoeba cells. Our findings deliver novel insights into the internal dynamics of cellular structures in these infectious pathogens. Published under license by AIP Publishing.}, language = {en} } @article{PalyulinBlackburnLomholtetal.2019, author = {Palyulin, Vladimir V and Blackburn, George and Lomholt, Michael A and Watkins, Nicholas W and Metzler, Ralf and Klages, Rainer and Chechkin, Aleksei V.}, title = {First passage and first hitting times of L{\´e}vy flights and L{\´e}vy walks}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab41bb}, pages = {24}, year = {2019}, abstract = {For both L{\´e}vy flight and L{\´e}vy walk search processes we analyse the full distribution of first-passage and first-hitting (or first-arrival) times. These are, respectively, the times when the particle moves across a point at some given distance from its initial position for the first time, or when it lands at a given point for the first time. For L{\´e}vy motions with their propensity for long relocation events and thus the possibility to jump across a given point in space without actually hitting it ('leapovers'), these two definitions lead to significantly different results. We study the first-passage and first-hitting time distributions as functions of the L{\´e}vy stable index, highlighting the different behaviour for the cases when the first absolute moment of the jump length distribution is finite or infinite. In particular we examine the limits of short and long times. Our results will find their application in the mathematical modelling of random search processes as well as computer algorithms.}, language = {en} } @article{GuggenbergerPagniniVojtaetal.2019, author = {Guggenberger, Tobias and Pagnini, Gianni and Vojta, Thomas and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Fractional Brownian motion in a finite interval}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ; IOP, Institute of Physics}, address = {Bad Honnef und London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab075f}, pages = {13}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Fractional Brownian motion (FBM) is a Gaussian stochastic process with stationary, long-time correlated increments and is frequently used to model anomalous diffusion processes. We study numerically FBM confined to a finite interval with reflecting boundary conditions. The probability density function of this reflected FBM at long times converges to a stationary distribution showing distinct deviations from the fully flat distribution of amplitude 1/L in an interval of length L found for reflected normal Brownian motion. While for superdiffusion, corresponding to a mean squared displacement (MSD) 〈X² (t)〉 ⋍ tᵅ with 1 < α < 2, the probability density function is lowered in the centre of the interval and rises towards the boundaries, for subdiffusion (0 < α < 1) this behaviour is reversed and the particle density is depleted close to the boundaries. The MSD in these cases at long times converges to a stationary value, which is, remarkably, monotonically increasing with the anomalous diffusion exponent α. Our a priori surprising results may have interesting consequences for the application of FBM for processes such as molecule or tracer diffusion in the confines of living biological cells or organelles, or other viscoelastic environments such as dense liquids in microfluidic chambers.}, language = {en} } @article{SposiniMetzlerOshanin2019, author = {Sposini, Vittoria and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb}, title = {Single-trajectory spectral analysis of scaled Brownian motion}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ; IOP, Institute of Physics}, address = {Bad Honnef und London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab2f52}, pages = {16}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Astandard approach to study time-dependent stochastic processes is the power spectral density (PSD), an ensemble-averaged property defined as the Fourier transform of the autocorrelation function of the process in the asymptotic limit of long observation times, T → ∞. In many experimental situations one is able to garner only relatively few stochastic time series of finite T, such that practically neither an ensemble average nor the asymptotic limit T → ∞ can be achieved. To accommodate for a meaningful analysis of such finite-length data we here develop the framework of single-trajectory spectral analysis for one of the standard models of anomalous diffusion, scaled Brownian motion.Wedemonstrate that the frequency dependence of the single-trajectory PSD is exactly the same as for standard Brownian motion, which may lead one to the erroneous conclusion that the observed motion is normal-diffusive. However, a distinctive feature is shown to be provided by the explicit dependence on the measurement time T, and this ageing phenomenon can be used to deduce the anomalous diffusion exponent.Wealso compare our results to the single-trajectory PSD behaviour of another standard anomalous diffusion process, fractional Brownian motion, and work out the commonalities and differences. Our results represent an important step in establishing singletrajectory PSDs as an alternative (or complement) to analyses based on the time-averaged mean squared displacement.}, language = {en} } @article{ŚlęzakBurneckiMetzler2019, author = {Ślęzak, Jakub and Burnecki, Krzysztof and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Random coefficient autoregressive processes describe Brownian yet non-Gaussian diffusion in heterogeneous systems}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft ; IOP, Institute of Physics}, address = {Bad Honnef und London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab3366}, pages = {18}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Many studies on biological and soft matter systems report the joint presence of a linear mean-squared displacement and a non-Gaussian probability density exhibiting, for instance, exponential or stretched-Gaussian tails. This phenomenon is ascribed to the heterogeneity of the medium and is captured by random parameter models such as 'superstatistics' or 'diffusing diffusivity'. Independently, scientists working in the area of time series analysis and statistics have studied a class of discrete-time processes with similar properties, namely, random coefficient autoregressive models. In this work we try to reconcile these two approaches and thus provide a bridge between physical stochastic processes and autoregressive models.Westart from the basic Langevin equation of motion with time-varying damping or diffusion coefficients and establish the link to random coefficient autoregressive processes. By exploring that link we gain access to efficient statistical methods which can help to identify data exhibiting Brownian yet non-Gaussian diffusion.}, language = {en} } @article{KindlerPulkkinenCherstvyetal.2019, author = {Kindler, Oliver and Pulkkinen, Otto and Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Burst Statistics in an Early Biofilm Quorum Sensing Mode}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {9}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, publisher = {Macmillan Publishers Limited part of Springer Nature}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-48525-2}, pages = {19}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Quorum-sensing bacteria in a growing colony of cells send out signalling molecules (so-called "autoinducers") and themselves sense the autoinducer concentration in their vicinity. Once—due to increased local cell density inside a "cluster" of the growing colony—the concentration of autoinducers exceeds a threshold value, cells in this clusters get "induced" into a communal, multi-cell biofilm-forming mode in a cluster-wide burst event. We analyse quantitatively the influence of spatial disorder, the local heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of cells in the colony, and additional physical parameters such as the autoinducer signal range on the induction dynamics of the cell colony. Spatial inhomogeneity with higher local cell concentrations in clusters leads to earlier but more localised induction events, while homogeneous distributions lead to comparatively delayed but more concerted induction of the cell colony, and, thus, a behaviour close to the mean-field dynamics. We quantify the induction dynamics with quantifiers such as the time series of induction events and burst sizes, the grouping into induction families, and the mean autoinducer concentration levels. Consequences for different scenarios of biofilm growth are discussed, providing possible cues for biofilm control in both health care and biotechnology.}, language = {en} } @article{GrebenkovMetzlerOshanin2019, author = {Grebenkov, Denis S. and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb}, title = {Full distribution of first exit times in the narrow escape problem}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {21}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, publisher = {Dt. Physikalische Ges.}, address = {Bad Honnef}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/ab5de4}, pages = {23}, year = {2019}, abstract = {In the scenario of the narrow escape problem (NEP) a particle diffuses in a finite container and eventually leaves it through a small 'escape window' in the otherwise impermeable boundary, once it arrives to this window and crosses an entropic barrier at the entrance to it. This generic problem is mathematically identical to that of a diffusion-mediated reaction with a partially-reactive site on the container's boundary. Considerable knowledge is available on the dependence of the mean first-reaction time (FRT) on the pertinent parameters. We here go a distinct step further and derive the full FRT distribution for the NEP. We demonstrate that typical FRTs may be orders of magnitude shorter than the mean one, thus resulting in a strong defocusing of characteristic temporal scales. We unveil the geometry-control of the typical times, emphasising the role of the initial distance to the target as a decisive parameter. A crucial finding is the further FRT defocusing due to the barrier, necessitating repeated escape or reaction attempts interspersed with bulk excursions. These results add new perspectives and offer a broad comprehension of various features of the by-now classical NEP that are relevant for numerous biological and technological systems.}, language = {en} }