Variational approach to KPZ: Fluctuation theorems and large deviation function for entropy production

Heat statistics in the relaxation process of the Edwards-Wilkinson elastic manifold

The stochastic thermodynamics of systems with a few degrees of freedom has been studied extensively so far. We would like to extend the study to systems with more degrees of freedom and even further-continuous fields with infinite degrees of freedom. The simplest case for a continuous stochastic field is the Edwards-Wilkinson elastic manifold. It is an exactly solvable model of which the heat statistics in the relaxation process can be calculated analytically. The cumulants require a cutoff spacing to avoid ultraviolet divergence. The scaling behavior of the heat cumulants with time and the system size as well as the large deviation rate function of the heat statistics in the large size limit is obtained.

Solution of the 1D KPZ Equation by Explicit Methods

The Kardar–Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation is examined using the recently published leapfrog–hopscotch (LH) method as well as the most standard forward time centered space (FTCS) scheme and the Heun method. The methods are verified by reproducing an analytical solution. The performance of each method is then compared by calculating the average and the maximum differences among the results and displaying the runtimes. Numerical tests show that due to the special symmetry in the time–space discretisation, the new LH method clearly outperforms the other two methods. In addition, we discuss the effect of different parameters on the solutions.

Introduction to Focus Issue: Instabilities and nonequilibrium structures

This Focus Issue on instabilities and nonequilibrium structures includes invited contributions from leading researchers across many different fields. The issue was inspired in part by the "VII Instabilities and Nonequilibrium Structures 2019" conference that took place at the Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Chile in December 2019. The conference, which is devoted to nonlinear science, is one of the oldest conferences in South America (since December 1985). This session has an exceptional character since it coincides with the 80th anniversary of Professor Enrique Tirapegui. We take this opportunity to highlight Tirapegui's groundbreaking contributions in the field of random perturbations experienced by macroscopic systems and in the formation of spatiotemporal structures in such systems operating far from thermodynamic equilibrium. This issue addresses a cross-disciplinary area of research as can be witnessed by the diversity of systems considered from inert matter such as photonics, chemistry, and fluid dynamics, to biology.