English

One-dimensional lattice random walks in a Gaussian random potential

Statistical Mechanics 2026-02-27 v3

Abstract

We study random walks evolving in continuous time on a one-dimensional lattice where each site xx hosts a quenched random potential UxU_x. 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 UxU_x: 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 NN sites: the probability current, its reciprocal (the resistance), the splitting probability EE_-, the mean first-passage time TNT_N, and the diffusion coefficient DND_N 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, EE_-, TNT_N and DND_N become self-averaging when NN \to \infty, though they exhibit strong sample-to-sample fluctuations for finite NN.

Keywords

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}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T06:02:51.900Z