Infinite covariant density for diffusion in logarithmic potentials and optical lattices

David A. Kessler, Eli Barkai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

We solve the Fokker-Planck equation for Brownian motion in a logarithmic potential. When the diffusion constant is below a critical value the solution approaches an infinite covariant density. With this non-normalizable solution we obtain the phase diagram of anomalous diffusion for this process. We briefly discuss the physical consequences for atoms in optical lattices and charges in the vicinity of long polyelectrolytes. Our work explains in what sense the infinite covariant density and not Boltzmann's equilibrium describes the long time limit of these systems.

Original languageEnglish
Article number120602
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume105
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Sep 2010

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