Pushing, blocking and polynuclear growth

Abstract

We consider a discrete-time model for random interface growth which admits exact formulas and converges to the Polynuclear growth model in a particular limit. The height of the interface is initially flat and the evolution involves the addition of islands of height one according to a Poisson point process of nucleation events. The boundaries of these islands then spread in a stochastic manner, rather than at deterministic speed as in the Polynuclear growth model. The one-point distribution and multi-time distributions agree with point-to-line last passage percolation times in a geometric environment. An alternative interpretation for the growth model can be given through interacting particle systems experiencing pushing and blocking interactions.