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 hosts a quenched random potential . 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 : 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 sites: the probability current, its reciprocal (the resistance), the splitting probability , the mean first-passage time , and the diffusion coefficient 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, , and become self-averaging when , though they exhibit strong sample-to-sample fluctuations for finite .
Cite
@article{arxiv.2509.23985,
title = {One-dimensional lattice random walks in a Gaussian random potential},
author = {Silvio Kalaj and Enzo Marinari and Gleb Oshanin and Luca Peliti},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.23985},
year = {2026}
}