Decomposition of Anomalous Diffusion in two-state random walks

Abstract

Two-state stochastic models, where motion alternates between distinct dynamical modes, are widely observed in complex systems. Here we study the Two-State Random Walk (TSRW), which switches between a continuous-time random walk (CTRW) rest state and a standard L'evy walk (LW) motion state, each with power-law distributed sojourn times. Using anomalous diffusion decomposition, we show that TSRWs exhibit a generic coexistence of Joseph (correlation), Noah (heavy-tailed increments), and Moses (aging) effects. Strikingly, although classical L'evy walks alone possess only the Joseph effect, both Noah and Moses effects emerge in TSRWs solely due to stochastic switching with the CTRW phase. Our results demonstrate that coupling between dynamical states can fundamentally reshape the mechanisms driving anomalous diffusion, offering a minimal yet powerful framework for transport in heterogeneous and intermittently switching environments.