Exact height distributions for the KPZ equation with narrow wedge initial condition

Tomohiro Sasamoto, Herbert Spohn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

149 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider the KPZ equation in one space dimension with narrow wedge initial condition, h(x,t=0)=-|x|/δ, δ≪1, evolving into a parabolic profile with superimposed fluctuations. Based on previous results for the weakly asymmetric simple exclusion process with step initial conditions, we obtain a determinantal formula for the one-point distribution of the solution h(x,t) valid for any x and t>0. The corresponding distribution function converges in the long time limit, t → ∞, to the Tracy-Widom distribution. The first order correction is a shift of order t-1/3. We provide numerical computations based on the exact formula.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)523-542
Number of pages20
JournalNuclear Physics, Section B
Volume834
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

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