Kink Stochastics

摘要

Kinks are examples of coherent structures: clearly identifiable localized features in a noisy, spatially extended system that can be followed as they move about under the influence of fluctuations. Numerical convergence of thermodynamic properties lets us explore kinks' stochastic dynamics. Scientists in many fields face a similar challenge: how to understand a large system, driven by many noisy and nonlinear influences, and containing persistent identifiable structures. They're meeting the challenge with a two-pronged approach. First, using the most powerful computers available, scientists perform numerical simulations of the full model on the largest domain and with the highest spatial resolution possible, for as long a time as possible. Second, they've developed theoretical methods that efficiently identify the structures of interest and predict their number, structure, dynamics, and interactions.