One-dimensional lattice random walks in a Gaussian random potential

Abstract We study random walks evolving in continuous time on a one-dimensional lattice where each site x hosts a quenched random potential U x . The potentials on different sites are independent, identically distributed Gaussian random variables. 
We analyze three distinct models that specify how the transition rates depend on 
U x : the random-force-like model, random walks with randomized stepping times, and the Gaussian trap model. Our analysis focuses on five key disorder-dependent quantities defined for a finite chain with 
 N sites: the probability current, its reciprocal (the resistance), the splitting probability E - , the mean first-passage time T N , and the diffusion coefficient D N in a periodic chain. By determining the moments of these random variables, we demonstrate that the probability current and resistance are not self-averaging, which leads to pronounced differences between their average and typical behaviors. In contrast, E - , T N and D N become self-averaging when N \to \infty, though they exhibit strong sample-to-sample fluctuations for finite N .

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical
Published
2026-07-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8121/ae91a1
Primary Topic
Stochastic processes and statistical mechanics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

One-dimensional lattice random walks in a Gaussian random potential

Gleb Oshanin, Luca Peliti, Enzo Marinari, Silvio Kalaj
Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical
Stochastic processes and statistical mechanics
article

One-dimensional lattice random walks in a Gaussian random potential

Gleb Oshanin, Luca Peliti, Enzo Marinari, Silvio Kalaj
article en

Abstract

Abstract We study random walks evolving in continuous time on a one-dimensional lattice where each site x hosts a quenched random potential U x . The potentials on different sites are independent, identically distributed Gaussian random variables. 
We analyze three distinct models that specify how the transition rates depend on 
U x : the random-force-like model, random walks with randomized stepping times, and the Gaussian trap model. Our analysis focuses on five key disorder-dependent quantities defined for a finite chain with 
 N sites: the probability current, its reciprocal (the resistance), the splitting probability E - , the mean first-passage time T N , and the diffusion coefficient D N in a periodic chain. By determining the moments of these random variables, we demonstrate that the probability current and resistance are not self-averaging, which leads to pronounced differences between their average and typical behaviors. In contrast, E - , T N and D N become self-averaging when N \to \infty, though they exhibit strong sample-to-sample fluctuations for finite N .

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical
Sorbonne Université (FR), Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée (FR), Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 90%
Stochastic processes and statistical mechanics
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