Continuous and discontinuous waves in an ASEP with pockets

Abstract

We consider a geometric modification of the asymmetric simple exclusion process model in which each site of a one-dimensional chain is attached to a lateral dead-end site. Since it has an uncorrelated steady state, this model shows rich density profile dynamics over large distances and timescales. We analyse various waves emerging from initial step-wise profiles. The most interesting feature is that this model demonstrates travelling rarefaction and contraction waves with a discontinuity at the leading edge.