Canonical phase-space approach to the noisy Burgers equation: probability distributions.

We present a canonical phase-space approach to stochastic systems described by Langevin equations driven by white noise. Mapping the associated Fokker-Planck equation to a Hamilton-Jacobi equation in the nonperturbative weak noise limit we invoke a principle of least action for the determination of the probability distributions. We apply the scheme to the noisy Burgers and Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equations and discuss the time-dependent and stationary probability distributions. In one dimension we derive the long-time skew distribution approaching the symmetric stationary Gaussian distribution. In the short-time region we discuss heuristically the nonlinear soliton contributions and derive an expression for the distribution in accordance with the directed polymer-replica and asymmetric exclusion model results. We also comment on the distribution in higher dimensions.

Canonical phase-space approach to the noisy Burgers equation.

Presenting a general phase-space approach to stochastic processes we analyze in particular the Fokker-Planck equation for the noisy Burgers equation and discuss the time-dependent and stationary probability distributions. In one dimension we derive the long-time skew distribution approaching the symmetric stationary Gaussian distribution. In the short-time regime we discuss heuristically the nonlinear soliton contributions and derive an expression for the distribution in accordance with the directed polymer-replica model and asymmetric exclusion model results.

The computer as a laboratory for the physical chemistry of membranes.

A mini-review is given of some recent advances in the use of computer-simulation approaches to the study of physico-chemical properties of lipid bilayers and biological membranes. The simulations are based on microscopic molecular interaction models as well as random-surface models of fluid membranes. Particular emphasis is put on those properties that are controlled by the many-particle character of the lamellar membrane, i.e. correlations and fluctuations in density, composition and large-scale conformational structure. It is discussed how dynamic membrane heterogeneity arises and how it is affected by various molecular species interacting with membranes, such as cholesterol, drugs, insecticides, as well as polypeptides and integral membrane proteins. The influence of bending rigidity and osmotic-pressure gradients on large-scale membrane conformation and topology is described.