Biomedical subjects

Michel Droz

Publications and source records attributed to Michel Droz.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Phase transitions in nonequilibrium d-dimensional models with q absorbing states.

A nonequilibrium Potts-like model with q absorbing states is studied using Monte Carlo simulations. In two dimensions and q=3 the model exhibits a discontinuous transition. For the three-dimensional case and q=2 the model exhibits a continuous transition with beta=1 (mean field). Simulations are inconclusive, however, in the two-dimensional case for q=2. We suggest that in this case the model is close to or at the crossing point of lines separating three different types of phase transitions. The proposed phase diagram in the (q,d) plane is very similar to that of the equilibrium Potts model. In addition, our simulations confirm the field-theory prediction that in two dimensions a branching-annihilating random walk model without parity conservation belongs to the directed percolation universality class.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Dynamics of populations in a changing environment.

We present an individual-based model of a population that lives in a changing environment. The individuals forming the population are subject to mutations and selection pressure. Using Monte Carlo simulations we have shown that, depending on the values of the mutation rate and selection, the population may reach either an active phase (it will survive) or an absorbing phase (it will become extinct). We have determined that the transition between the two states (phases) is continuous. We have shown that when the selection is weaker the population lives in all available space, while if the selection is stronger, it will move to the regions where the living conditions are better, avoiding those with more difficult conditions. The dependence of the mean time to extinction on the rate of mutations has been determined and discussed.

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PubMed2002

Urn model of separation of sand.

We introduce an urn model that describes spatial separation of sand. In this dynamical model, in a certain range of parameters spontaneous symmetry breaking takes place and equipartitioning of sand into two compartments is broken. The steady-state equation for an order parameter, a critical line, and the tricritical point on the phase diagram are found exactly. The master equation and the first-passage problem for the model are solved numerically and the results are used to locate first-order transitions. Exponential divergence of a certain characteristic time shows that the model can also exhibit very strong metastability. In certain cases characteristic time diverges as N(z), where N is the number of balls and z=1 / 2 (critical line), 2 / 3 (tricritical point), or 1 / 3 (limits of stability).

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