Diffusion with resetting in a logarithmic potential

Somrita Ray, Shlomi Reuveni

Published 2020-04-04Version 1

We study the effect of resetting on diffusion in a logarithmic potential. In this model, a particle diffusing in a potential $U(x) = U_0\log|x|$ is reset, i.e., taken back to its initial position, with a constant rate $r$. We show that this analytically tractable model system exhibits a series of phase transitions as a function of a single parameter, $\beta U_0$, the ratio of the strength of the potential to the thermal energy. For $\beta U_0<-1$ the potential is strongly repulsive, preventing the particle from reaching the origin. Resetting then generates a non-equilibrium steady state which is characterized exactly and thoroughly analyzed. In contrast, for $\beta U_0>-1$ the potential is either weakly repulsive or attractive and the diffusing particle eventually reaches the origin. In this case, we provide a closed form expression for the subsequent first-passage time distribution and show that a resetting transition occurs at $\beta U_0=5$. Namely, we find that resetting can expedite arrival to the origin when $-1<\beta U_0<5$, but not when $\beta U_0>5$. The results presented herein generalize results for simple diffusion with resetting -- a widely applicable model that is obtained from ours by setting $U_0=0$. Extending to general potential strengths, our work opens the door to theoretical and experimental investigation of a plethora of problems that bring together resetting and diffusion in logarithmic potential.