Dynamical phase transitions in one-dimensional hard-particle systems

Abstract

We analyse a one-dimensional model of hard particles, within ensembles of trajectories that are conditioned (or biased) to atypical values of the time-averaged dynamical activity. We analyse two phenomena that are associated with these large deviations of the activity: phase separation (at low activity) and the formation of hyperuniform states (at high activity). We consider a version of the model which operates at constant volume, and a version at constant pressure. In these non-equilibrium systems, differences arise between the two ensembles, because of the extra freedom available to the constant-pressure system, which can change its total density. We discuss the relationships between different ensembles, mechanical equilibrium, and the probability cost of rare density fluctuations.