English

Generalisation of the fractal Einstein law relating conduction and diffusion on networks

Statistical Mechanics 2009-03-20 v1

Abstract

In the 1980s an important goal of the emergent field of fractals was to determine the relationships between their physical and geometrical properties. The fractal-Einstein and Alexander-Orbach laws, which interrelate electrical, diffusive and fractal properties, are two key theories of this type. Here we settle a long standing controversy about their exactness by showing that the properties of a class of fractal trees violate both laws. A new formula is derived which unifies the two classical results by proving that if one holds, then so must the other, and resolves a puzzling discrepancy in the properties of Eden trees and diffusion limited aggregates. The failure of the classical laws is attributed to anisotropic exploration of the network by a random walker. The occurrence of this newly revealed behaviour means that numerous theories, such as recent first passage time results, are restricted to a narrower range of networks than previously thought.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0903.3279,
  title  = {Generalisation of the fractal Einstein law relating conduction and diffusion on networks},
  author = {Anthony P. Roberts and Christophe P. Haynes},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0903.3279},
  year   = {2009}
}