Metastability due to a branching-merging structure in a simple network of an exclusion process
Hiroki Yamamoto1, Daichi Yanagisawa2, Katsuhiro Nishinari2,3
1School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho Hirosaki city, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigate a simple network, which has a branching-merging structure, using the totally asymmetric simple exclusion process, considering conflicts at the merging point. For both periodic and open boundary conditions, the system exhibits metastability. Specifically, for open boundary conditions, we observe two types of metastability: hysteresis and a nonergodic phase. We analytically determine the tipping points, that is, the critical conditions under which a small disturbance can lead to the collapse of metastability. Our findings provide insights into metastability induced by branching-merging structures, which exist in all network systems in various fields.
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