Condensation Transitions in Nonequilibrium Systems

Abstract

Systems driven out of equilibrium can often exhibit behaviour not seen in systems in thermal equilibrium- for example phase transitions in one-dimensional systems. In this talk I will review several `condensation' transitions that occur when a conserved quantity is driven through the system. Although the condensation is spatial, i.e. a finite fraction of the conserved quantity condenses into a small spatial region, useful comparison can be made with usual Bose-Einstein condensation. Amongst some one-dimensional examples I will discuss the `Bus Route Model' where the condensation corresponds to the clustering together of buses moving along a bus-route.