Nonhydrodynamic initial conditions are not soon forgotten

T. R. Kirkpatrick, D. Belitz, and J. R. Dorfman

Phys. Rev. E 104, 024111 – Published 10 August 2021

Abstract

Solutions to hydrodynamic equations, which are used for a vast variety of physical problems, are assumed to be specified by boundary conditions and initial conditions on the hydrodynamic variables only. Initial values of other variables are assumed to be irrelevant for a hydrodynamic description. We show that this assumption is not correct because of the existence of long-time-tail effects that are ubiquitous in systems governed by hydrodynamic equations. We illustrate this breakdown of a hydrodynamic description by means of the simple example of diffusion in a disordered electron system.

Received 25 February 2021
Accepted 28 July 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.104.024111

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum kinetic theory

Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

T. R. Kirkpatrick¹, D. Belitz ^2,3, and J. R. Dorfman ¹

¹Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
²Department of Physics and Institute for Fundamental Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
³Materials Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA