The stochastic six-vertex model speed process

Abstract

For the stochastic six-vertex model on the quadrant $\mathbb{Z}_{\geq0}\times\mathbb{Z}_{\geq0}$ with step initial conditions and a single second-class particle at the origin, we show almost sure convergence of the speed of the second-class particle to a random limit. This allows us to define the stochastic six-vertex speed process, whose law we show to be ergodic and stationary for the dynamics of the multi-class stochastic six-vertex process. The proof follows the scheme developed in [ACG23] for ASEP and requires the development of precise bounds on the fluctuations of the height function of the stochastic six-vertex model around its limit shape using methods from integrable probability. As part of the proof, we also obtain a novel geometric stochastic domination result that states that a second-class particle to the right of any number of third-class particles will at any fixed time be overtaken by at most a geometric number of third-class particles.