Bose-Einstein condensation in disordered exclusion models and relation to traffic flow

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, UK

Received: 7 June 1996
Accepted: 19 August 1996

Abstract

A disordered version of the one-dimensional asymmetric exclusion model where the particle hopping rates are quenched random variables is studied. The steady state is solved exactly by use of a matrix product. It is shown how the phenomenon of Bose condensation whereby a finite fraction of the empty sites are condensed in front of the slowest particle may occur. Above a critical density of particles a phase transition occurs out of the low-density phase (Bose condensate) to a high-density phase. An exponent describing the decrease of the steady-state velocity as the density of particles goes above the critical value is calculated analytically and shown to depend on the distribution of hopping rates. The relation to traffic flow models is discussed.