English

Stable Equilibrium Based on L\'evy Statistics: Stochastic Collision Models Approach

Statistical Mechanics 2009-11-10 v1

Abstract

We investigate equilibrium properties of two very different stochastic collision models: (i) the Rayleigh particle and (ii) the driven Maxwell gas. For both models the equilibrium velocity distribution is a L\'evy distribution, the Maxwell distribution being a special case. We show how these models are related to fractional kinetic equations. Our work demonstrates that a stable power-law equilibrium, which is independent of details of the underlying models, is a natural generalization of Maxwell's velocity distribution.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0310509,
  title  = {Stable Equilibrium Based on L\'evy Statistics: Stochastic Collision Models Approach},
  author = {Eli Barkai},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0310509},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

PRE Rapid Communication (in press)